The U.S. Department of Education is ending the popular SAVE student loan repayment plan, which impacted over 7 million borrowers. This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to dismantle Biden-era student loan forgiveness policies, including the SAVE plan launched after the Supreme Court struck down Biden's previous debt relief initiative in 2023. The SAVE plan offered $0 payments for individuals earning $16 an hour or less, lowered monthly payments for millions, and protected borrowers from accruing interest. However, several Republican-led states, including Missouri, sued the Biden administration, leading to a federal appeals court blocking the program in 2024. The Department of Education announced that borrowers enrolled in SAVE will need to switch to other repayment plans, which could result in higher monthly payments—potentially up to $500 more per month for some. Many borrowers, who had not made payments since before the COVID-19 pandemic due to administrative forbearances and the pandemic pause, will now have to resume payments after nearly six years. The department is supporting borrowers through the Federal Student Aid Office, providing tools to help select new repayment plans. Critics argue that ending SAVE and other income-driven plans could increase costs for borrowers and lead to financial chaos. The move aligns with the Trump administration's broader agenda to eliminate federal student loan forgiveness programs and replace them with standard and new income-based repayment plans starting July 1, 2026.