As the Collective Higher Education Community Focuses on Implementation of the Major Changes in the Federal Student Loan Programs by July 1st Congressional Democrats Propose Legislation to Repeal the Rule
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Overview
As we committed to on yesterday’s CSPEN Federal Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Update webinar, below we have gathered together some initial resources to assist the higher education community in our collective efforts to very quickly assimilate the statutory and regulatory changes to federal student loans which go into effect on July 1st.
Just six days removed from the Department of Education’s publication of a final rule implementing provisions contained in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act/One Big Beautiful Bill all of the higher education community are attempting to review, interpret, and integrate these significant changes into their administration of the federal student loan programs.
Below we provide links from the Department on the rule itself and related information they have provided, a select set of external resources providing summaries of the final rule, separate resources specifically focused on the new provisions related to calculation of reductions in student loan eligibility for less than full-time students, and some media posts as well.
In addition, we are also providing additional information on the update CSPEN was first to provide to the community regarding Congressional Democrats introduction of a Joint Resolution seeking to prevent the July 1, 2026 “entry into force” – the legal term for taking effect.
Department of Education Resources
General Information
One Big Beautiful Bill Landing Page (us.list-manage.com/HRfUar3X0Ml?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
Federal Negotiated Rulemaking: Student Loan Committee
Federal Negotiated Rulemaking – Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee (us.list-manage.com/2_4omu08D86?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
RISE Negotiated Rulemaking Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Implements Student Loan Provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (us.list-manage.com/jEW7rwZHmTS?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
Final Rule & Department Announcement
Final: Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations (us.list-manage.com/VrVfioVHLZy?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Landmark Rule to Lower College Costs and Simplify Student Loan Repayment (us.list-manage.com/nxVu8LIyuSa?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
Key Electronic Announcements
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* One Big Beautiful Bill Act NSLDS Eligibility Processing Updates (EA ID: LOANS-26-05) (us.list-manage.com/OUjafV_pe3y?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812) (April 24, 2026)
* One Big Beautiful Bill Act FAFSA Processing Updates (EA ID: APP-26-02) (us.list-manage.com/LKgk6MVr_iv?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812) (March 9, 2026)
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Key Update (us.list-manage.com/KUQ0bHWpoMY?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812) -OBBB Updates
Less-than-full-time Loan Eligibility Calculation
NAICU Summary – Changes to All Lending Programs (us.list-manage.com/2Ip601LMDby?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
JMU Summary (us.list-manage.com/oCaWiM5UlkV?e=05bce952ad&c2id=828e2f13ae2569477ba2b7da4ef30812)
Joint Resolution Preventing The Rules From Taking Effect or Being Enforced
Using the authority provided to Congress under the Congressional Review Act, a group of Democrats have filed a Joint Resolution which reads as follow:
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to ‘‘Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations’’
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to ‘‘Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations’’ (91 Fed. Reg. 23768 (May 1, 2026)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.
Under the unique terms of the Congressional Review Act an expedited legislative process enables Congress to seek of repeal federal regulations by a simple majority vote. The joint resolution of disapproval must be passed in both chambers and signed by the President within sixty days.
