UPDATE: Trump Administration Takes Down Applications for IDR and Direct Loan Consolidations
The Trump Administration has removed the online applications for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and Direct loan consolidation. Right now, borrowers are unable to apply for any IDR plan (PAYE, ICR, IBR, SAVE), and will not be able to apply to consolidate federal student loans into a new Direct loan. Borrowers already enrolled in an IDR plan will also not be able to recertify their income, as this relies on the same application process. These actions appear to be in response to the recent ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which extended and expanded a block on lower payments and student loan forgiveness under several IDR plans.