[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6234194,"mediaKeyId","3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a","parentId",3411800,"title","Education Department opens negotiated rulemaking on Title IV, seeks wide public input on PSLF, IDR and regulatory reforms","audioSeconds",648,"startMs",30000,"endMs",678000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a&start=30&end=678","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a/thumbnail_30000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6234194/Education-Department-opens-negotiated-rulemaking-on-Title-IV-seeks-wide-public-input-on-PSLF-IDR-and-regulatory-reforms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234194-388d2a20b63dcc9a357dc0aab7f310da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770532154&Signature=SWg65DvAEjekomeSTtCu9Ck~fEthccFIxbjST1l2FyqIOFn1K3Hemq9jNNwQUzxHMY~VD1a4s~vuYKYHEbrg3TlhC8N4lAqGKTIBm7Succim8iuqQtf91ScROiqPczUCH87OHsx1cVraMvAvdKLhGzhyeAL9g4-3mA~yS6YGZG9MTcwz6~XTo0-svDEue3Fu4Yjtg96SGE-B65SxYTGAdYG-CoX5td~Nq0oWfPeJDDO1iWouBFzsAcZCxDlsYNoJUAMrESl1~A0MntXCs-8vtYrRYJWykElxcin6WFTCIGRbinVdabkZpiiKCPJlQ278f7tPIiH7OsGurV5TLanh5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-21T00:55:07.903Z","article","Washington — The U.S. Department of Education on Friday opened a public hearing to begin negotiated rulemaking over Title IV regulations governing federal student aid, soliciting feedback from borrowers, college leaders, accreditors and other stakeholders on proposals the department says could reduce compliance burdens and lower college costs.

“On behalf of the United States Department of Education, we welcome you and look forward to hearing your comments and your feedback,” said Tammy Abernathy of the department's Office of Postsecondary Education, who introduced James Bergeron, the department’s deputy undersecretary and acting undersecretary. Bergeron told attendees the session is the first of two public hearings and that the department seeks input on a range of topics tied to Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The department said it is soliciting comments on streamlining federal financial-aid regulations while “maintain[ing] or improv[ing] program integrity and institutional quality,” and on regulatory changes affecting Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. Bergeron said written comments were being accepted through May 8 and that a second hearing would be held virtually on Thursday, May 1; the department also said it will publish a Federal Register notice to convene negotiated rulemaking committees and seek nominations for those committees.

Why it matters: The negotiated rulemaking process can lead to proposed regulatory language that becomes the basis for formal rules. Changes to Title IV rules affect eligibility and obligations for tens of millions of borrowers, the way colleges qualify for federal aid and how programs such as PSLF and IDR operate in practice.

Most of the hearing focused on stakeholders’ concerns about PSLF and IDR and on whether regulatory changes should preserve, narrow or expand current eligibility. Bergeron and other department staff said they are also seeking feedback on repayment-plan formulas after litigation that affected the administration’s prior SAVE plan, and on regulatory obstacles they say can hinder innovation and raise institutional costs. He said the department anticipates forming multiple negotiated rulemaking committees over the next year to cover distinct subjects and will provide issue papers and draft regulatory language during the in-person negotiations.

Department logistics and next steps: Tammy Abernathy described the public-comment procedures for the in-person hearing — three-minute speaking slots for registered commenters and a posted transcript and audio recording to follow — and the department confirmed the extended written-comment deadline of May 8. The department said it will use the public comments to identify topics for negotiated rulemaking committees and will invite nominees to serve on those committees.

Officials at the hearing emphasized that negotiated rulemaking is only one part of the rulemaking process: any draft regulatory language produced by a negotiated committee would still be subject to notice-and-comment procedures and applicable statutory limits. The department also flagged that some parts of the prior administration’s SAVE final rule have been enjoined by courts and said it seeks feedback on how to align repayment-plan rules with existing law and recent judicial decisions.

The hearing drew a mix of student borrowers, higher-education officials, accreditation representatives and nonprofit advocates who said they would submit written comments and consider serving on negotiating committees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Negotiated Rulemaking Public Hearing Morning Session April 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The U.S. Department of Education opened negotiated rulemaking on Title IV, asking for public comment on proposed changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, income-driven repayment, gainful-employment and related regulations.","taxTitle","U.S. Department of Education","taxId",7932,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},6234183,"Accreditors and colleges press Education Department to modernize oversight: composite score, change-in-ownership and accreditation rules",1759,4575000,6334000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a&start=4575&end=6334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a/thumbnail_4575000.jpg","/articles/6234183/Accreditors-and-colleges-press-Education-Department-to-modernize-oversight-composite-score-change-in-ownership-and-accreditation-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234183-78023aae875462d522ec955b7502fcea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770532154&Signature=kaDSKVXrA0K74TRNX6tpcwZxJrBqIdCygH0ikYX7sQHsWiiGdn0hDS7MP-gMumRmHT9LH5zufmw7EMxfneHsoq3XT6rx~J4bunm5G-7K5UgEGwbGNtxFO9WZP1QqDRNcrSnURFJy4jljsgIhLXO2BgbKyOXlw33mG6RlkMhKx43j4jVjzdpqy9tG7qpR68Zx1n3qqr0GHfE0EOlxx-B7wGEkK6GljZQ3Y5M4G4W-apNAea2Pp0bPR7JF~Uqti2s9qai3Rjc2hEJHD0Tf01buc6UIOGlx0xI4NkNZNvhX84UpvtVqC8eLledlGaupgYW3q-hc3Ls8dd2hMnOeB1oT3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington — Accreditation bodies and institutional representatives urged the Department of Education on Friday to modernize several Title IV regulatory tools they said have become burdensome and in some cases impede institutional innovation and timely transactions.

Heather Perfetti, president of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions, told the hearing that accreditor recognition and renewal processes could be streamlined to welcome new accreditors while maintaining consistent standards. “Definitions of distance education, competency‑based education, and credit hour should be re‑examined to determine the extent to which current regulations inhibit innovation,” she said.

Tracy Schneider of the Middle States Commission said recent department guidance on changes in ownership has created a two‑step process that can leave institutions “in limbo, often for more than two years,” and that the department should include accreditors and state agencies when revisiting change‑in‑ownership rules (34 C.F.R. 600.31, as referenced by commenters).

Several institution representatives called for an updated composite score, which the department uses to assess an institution’s financial responsibility for Title IV participation. Edtellum Global Education urged adding intangible assets (goodwill, trademarks) to the composite‑score ratios, arguing the metric — created in 1997 and recommended for modernization by the Government Accountability Office — now unfairly penalizes institutions that specialize in distance education or that undergo acquisitions.

Institutional comments also recommended revisiting return-of-Title-IV‑funds procedures (34 C.F.R. 668.22) to provide more clarity and reduce administrative burden. One former department official and an institutional oversight veteran urged the department to modernize financial reporting to require quarterly unaudited statements in a machine‑readable format so states, accreditors and the department can better monitor closure risk.

Why it matters: Change‑in‑ownership delays, an outdated financial‑responsibility metric and unclear return‑of‑Title‑IV processes can slow transactions, frustrate state regulators and accreditors, and, according to commenters, affect students when institutions restructure. Accreditors urged preserving protections for students while eliminating unnecessary regulatory steps.

The department said it expects negotiated rulemaking committees to include interested stakeholders and that the process will provide issue papers and draft language for committee discussion. Commenters asked that accreditors, state oversight agencies and institutions be explicitly included in any negotiations over regulations that affect institutional operations.

Speakers representing accrediting bodies and institutions submitted written comments and said they would participate in negotiated rulemaking sessions if invited.","Regional accreditors, commission chairs and several institutions urged the department to streamline regulations on accreditors’ recognition and renewal, modernize the composite financial-responsibility score, clarify change-in-ownership procedures and simplify return-of-Title-IV requirements to reduce delays and support innovation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},6234186,"Borrowers, health workers and educators urge Department to preserve PSLF and income-driven repayment at Title IV hearing",9613,833000,10446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a&start=833&end=10446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411800-dea91b64212625ba3be10e467e37050a/thumbnail_833000.jpg","/articles/6234186/Borrowers-health-workers-and-educators-urge-Department-to-preserve-PSLF-and-income-driven-repayment-at-Title-IV-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234186-3b32c792f2ed73ccab050d8cfc528793/orig.mp4?Expires=1770532154&Signature=NWqRxxUYBOE67UT3DdW45RVobA6zoF5~1k7X33XW8AJj1xJd5yoylYAP3mDazjFc-YGNic0jH4zG5DJqvrjz7HLtD4iNlGlI27sCHzQ~OzInfBJ5P2DYbeulN5nIWKA8kn3fYGwgOwgaNmPUgRHNIcWTF~dIZYJfjuJfuLV6T5LScfq1GoUuV9M88~w~SedQsg5fw0G2ceh6zhq4qRWRtVf7x5DooqEKRjtJouAmsseXMVp4jnBAyUIZRRRwB1kI~xxdVPjsUnxCAuT0pIsUt9JhUQLS36YVHsUq5ridQ3dmPdqU6KTOu7o1uLuiQeGhap79QFrE7aJrq1ahKNrWHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington — Dozens of borrowers, students, health-care workers, teachers and public servants urged the U.S. Department of Education on Friday to preserve and strengthen Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) programs as the department begins negotiated rulemaking under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.

“Student debt forgiveness is a pathway to economic security,” said Samir Hassan of Young Invincibles, who told the hearing he carries about $125,000 in student debt and that PSLF and IDR allow him to “set money aside to make those dreams a reality.”

Speakers described the programs as critical to recruiting and retaining workers in nursing, teaching, law enforcement, emergency medical services and public defense. Charlie Smith, Frederick County (Md.) state's attorney and chair of the board of the National District Attorneys Association, said PSLF helps keep prosecutors in often understaffed offices and argued that reductions would “accelerate” prosecution shortfalls. Lynn Taylor, an internal medicine resident representing the American College of Physicians, said IDR and PSLF are the only ways many resident doctors can afford payments during training.

Several commenters warned against narrowing the department’s proposed definition of a qualifying employer for PSLF to exclude organizations that engage in a “substantial illegal purpose,” a formulation discussed by department staff. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators told the department that excluding employers without a formal legal finding could create subjectivity and “empower negotiators to target organizations based on disagreements with their mission or services.”

Borrowers and advocates described the practical harms of uncertainty and administrative delay. “I completed over 10 years of public service, making payments in good faith,” said Joseph Javier Ayala, calling borrowers’ frustration “not just unfair. It’s immoral.” Several physician speakers urged that months when borrowers were placed on the SAVE injunction’s forced forbearance be credited toward PSLF or be made available for buyback without unrealistic lump‑sum payments.

Other commenters urged broader protections and modernization: employers and benefit vendors recommended interoperable application programming interfaces (APIs) and clearer rules governing third-party access to student-aid data so that employers can reliably offer loan-repayment benefits. Savvy’s chief borrower advocate recommended “investing in APIs” and creating a user-permission approach to data access.

Numbers and context cited at the hearing: the Center for American Progress noted roughly three in 10 borrowers — about 12,500,000 — were enrolled in an IDR plan; speakers also referenced roughly 43,000,000 federal loan holders overall. Multiple commenters said enrollment and forgiveness processing remain stalled because of litigation over the SAVE plan and operational backlogs on studentaid.gov.

What commenters asked the department to do

- Preserve or expand eligibility for PSLF and maintain multiple IDR plan options rather than consolidating to a single plan without safeguards.
- Ensure months placed into forced forbearance during the SAVE injunction can count toward PSLF or be made payable through realistic buyback options.
- Avoid a definition of qualifying employer that depends on subjective determinations of “illegal activity” without a formal legal finding or due-process mechanism.
- Invest in modern data access (APIs) and borrower‑centered processing, including automatic enrollment or recertification options for IDR with borrower consent.

What the department said: Officials at the hearing acknowledged the SAVE plan’s portions were enjoined by courts and said they sought feedback on “aligning income contingent repayment, as well as the pay as you earn repayment plan with the requirements of the law.” The department also extended the written comment deadline to May 8 and said it will consider nominations for negotiated rulemaking committees.

The public comment period for rulemaking remains open, and many organizations and individuals said they will submit written comments to the department.","Scores of public commenters at the Education Department hearing urged preserving or expanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-driven repayment, citing retention of nurses, teachers, prosecutors and physicians, the burdens of high debt on borrowers’ lives and calls to avoid narrowing the definition of qualifying employers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Education Department opens negotiated rulemaking on Title IV, seeks wide public input on PSLF, IDR and regulatory reforms

Accreditors and colleges press Education Department to modernize oversight: composite score, change-in-ownership and accreditation rules

Borrowers, health workers and educators urge Department to preserve PSLF and income-driven repayment at Title IV hearing