Bill > HR5843

This bill provides student loan relief for federal employees during government shutdowns lasting 14 days or more. The bill defines "covered individuals" as agency employees who are furloughed or not being paid during a government shutdown, as well as certain contractors who cannot work during the shutdown. During such periods in fiscal year 2026 and beyond, the Secretary of Education will suspend all student loan payments for these covered individuals under federal student loan programs. The bill ensures that during the payment suspension, no interest will accrue on the loans, and each suspended month will be treated as if the borrower made a regular payment for the purposes of loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, the bill requires that credit reporting agencies treat suspended payments as if they were regularly made payments. The bill has a retroactive effective date of September 30, 2025, and allows the Secretary of Education to issue refunds to covered individuals for loan payments made during shutdown periods if requested. This legislation aims to provide financial protection for federal workers who experience income disruption during government shutdowns.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5843/all-info