Trump’s Cuts to the Public Loan Forgiveness Program Will Harm Our Communities
Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a program which currently allows government employees including teachers, firefighters, and some non-profit employees, to have their student loans cancelled after making payments for 10 years. Trump’s education department is planning to change this program so that anyone involved in “illegal activities” cannot benefit from it. The definition of “illegal activity” is extremely subjective and up to the whims of whoever is appointed as Education Secretary. Some speculate that this could be used as a tool for political punishment, and with the way the Trump administration is cracking down on political opponents, this seems likely.
Summer intern Marlenne wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Mercury News criticizing this policy change.
It reads: “Without community care, how will people have equitable access to public services? The answer? They won’t.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has given marginalized students the support they need to break the cycle of poverty within their families and communities. In addition to helping students throughout their academic careers, it directly supports jobs that benefit the community.
Donald Trump is purposely closing the pipeline for survival. Without schools and hospitals, there will be no way for the middle and lower classes to access resources and any chance of climbing the economic ladder. Instead of taking away the futures of many, we need to expand funding for financial aid.
Education is power that sustains our communities.”
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Loan forgiveness cuts threaten community
By Marlenne Perez | Mercury News | July 10th, 2025