The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education has announced the formation of a new Negotiated Rulemaking Committee named the “Student Loans and Affordability Committee.”
This committee will focus on preparing proposed regulations for federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
The Department’s decision follows two public hearings and a comment period, during which they gathered feedback on ways to streamline and enhance higher education regulations.
Committee’s Role and Focus Areas
The purpose of the new committee is to involve key stakeholders in improving federal student aid programs, particularly the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
The goal is to ensure these programs are more effective for students, families, and taxpayers. The committee will specifically address:
- Refining Qualifying Employer Definitions for PSLF: The committee will revisit the current definitions of what constitutes a qualifying employer for determining eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
- Reassessing Provisions of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan: The committee will also revisit the provisions related to family size, restructuring repayment plans, and other elements of the July 10, 2023, rule that established the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan. This rule has been temporarily blocked (enjoined).
Nomination and Timeline
The Department has set a deadline for nominations for negotiators to be submitted by June 2, 2025. The Department expects to hold one negotiating session between June 30th and July 2nd of 2025.
Proposed and final rules based on the committee’s work will be issued later in the year. Additionally, the Department plans to announce other committees focused on various topics throughout this Administration.
Background on Negotiated Rulemaking
According to Section 492 of the Higher Education Act, the Secretary of Education is required to involve the public in developing proposed regulations before they are finalized.
After gathering feedback from the public and other stakeholders, the Department enters the negotiated rulemaking process, where regulations are developed collaboratively.
This process ensures that the proposed rules reflect a broad range of perspectives and input from the people most impacted by federal student aid programs.
Earlier this year, the Department announced its intention to address topics such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) programs through this negotiated rulemaking process.
Two public hearings were held on April 29th and May 1st to gather input from the public on these matters.
The upcoming negotiations will play a critical role in shaping the future of federal student aid programs.
The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that these programs better serve students and taxpayers while also making the higher education system more accessible and affordable.
With the announcement of this committee, the Department is taking an important step toward improving the student loan and affordability landscape in the U.S.
