The American Federation of Teachers filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration’s Department of Education on Friday, contending that officials have unlawfully obstructed student loan forgiveness for a substantial number of eligible borrowers. The case, Weingarten v. McMahon, was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and names Education Secretary Linda McMahon as a defendant.
The lawsuit centers on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, established in 2007, which permits certain public service employees to have their federal student loans cancelled after 120 qualifying payments. The plaintiff group argues that McMahon has mishandled the program by incorrectly calculating borrowers’ payment histories and failing to provide appropriate credit for time already served. AFT President Randi Weingarten, the lead plaintiff, stated that the secretary has neglected her obligation to assist teachers, nurses, and first responders seeking relief. The union represents approximately 1.8 million members.
A particular focus of the litigation involves delays in processing the PSLF Buyback program, which allows borrowers who have completed 120 months of qualifying employment to retroactively claim credit for months previously missed due to forbearance or deferment periods. According to court filings, approximately 88,000 applications remain pending resolution. Additionally, plaintiffs allege that the Education Department unexpectedly reduced qualifying payment counts for certain borrowers earlier this year, extending their timelines to loan forgiveness.
The Education Department responded by characterizing recent changes as corrections to coding errors from the previous administration that led to inaccurate payment records. A spokesperson stated the agency remains dedicated to ensuring proper credit for all qualifying payments. The case continues a broader dispute over student loan forgiveness policies between successive administrations.
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