The Biden Administration's Ambitious Higher Ed Agenda

ABSTRACT

The executive actions rescinded the Trump-era travel ban on several predominantly Muslim countries, preserved and fortified the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, strengthened protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, and extended pandemic-related limits on student loan payments (White House 2021c, 2021b, 2021e, 2021d). The following month, the agency held a series of virtual hearings to collect initial comments on the proposed topics, with aacrao and other groups encouraging the department to ensure that the new federal student loan rules increase access while also strengthening oversight and enforcement to protect students and taxpayer dollars. [...]in October, the department convened the first of two negotiated rulemaking committees-composed of representatives of the student loan industry, state regulators, colleges, financial aid administrators, accrediting agencies, consumer advocacy organizations, students, and other stakeholders-to review current federal student aid programs and consider proposed changes to governing regulations. Affordability and Student Loan Rules The Affordability and Student Loans Committee met last fall to discuss rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (pslf) program, borrower defense to repayment, interest capitalization on federal loans, income-driven repayment plans, Pell Grant eligibility for prisoners, mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and prohibition of class action lawsuits, and discharges for closed schools, false certification of eligibility, and total and permanent disability.