Linda McMahon backs student loan forgiveness at the Senate confirmation hearing amid GOP attacks, but will she hold the line? – The Times of India

Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, underwent a Senate confirmation hearing yesterday where she outlined her vision for the Department of Education. During the hearing, she affirmed her commitment to maintaining the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This declaration comes despite ongoing Republican criticism of the program and previous attempts to dismantle it during Trump’s first term. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, McMahon emphasized that the PSLF program is protected by law and should be upheld accordingly.
McMahon’s nomination aligns with the Trump administration’s broader goal of restructuring the US Department of Education. She acknowledged that abolishing the agency, as proposed by the White House, would require congressional approval and stated that any such move should be conducted methodically with Senate support.
Debate over PSLF
The PSLF program, designed to waive remaining student loan balances for government and nonprofit employees after ten years of timely payments, has been a contentious issue. Critics, particularly among Republicans, argue that the program disproportionately benefits workers in public-sector jobs over those in the private sector. During Trump’s first term, then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos sought to eliminate the program entirely and was later accused of obstructing its implementation. A staggering 99% of applicants saw their forgiveness requests denied during this period, highlighting systemic challenges within the program’s administration, as per a US News report.
Legislative and administrative protections for PSLF
Despite previous Republican opposition, McMahon assured senators that she would uphold the program as long as it remains legislated. In response to questioning from Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, she stated unequivocally that she would continue executing PSLF even if pressured by administration officials, including those from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to discontinue it. “Yes, because that’s the law,” she affirmed, according to a YahooFinance report.
PSLF reforms under the Biden administration
Under President Joe Biden, the Department of Education took significant steps to expand and streamline PSLF. The administration introduced emergency measures allowing past payments to count toward forgiveness, even if borrowers had been enrolled in the wrong repayment plan. Additionally, the definition of an on-time payment was relaxed, removing barriers that had historically prevented borrowers from qualifying. Since 2021, over one million borrowers have successfully had their loans forgiven under these revised provisions.
Next steps in McMahon’s confirmation process
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will vote on McMahon’s nomination on February 20. If she secures committee approval, her nomination will proceed to a full Senate vote, where she is expected to be confirmed. Her confirmation would mark a pivotal moment for federal education policy, particularly concerning student loan forgiveness and broader administrative restructuring within the Department of Education.
While McMahon’s commitment to PSLF provides reassurance to borrowers, her tenure as Secretary of Education may still bring substantial changes to the department’s operations. The extent to which she adheres to Trump’s broader policy objectives remains to be seen, but her pledge to maintain loan forgiveness programs signals continuity in this critical area of education policy.