Trump-era changes to student loans explained: What ended, what’s ending, what survives

Student loans in the US have not been frozen or wiped away. They have been redesigned. Three popular income-driven plans are being phased out, a new repayment plan is due in July 2026, and “pause” options like deferment and forbearance are being tightened. Forgiveness still exists, but for most borrowers the exit is now longer, narrower, and easier to lose.