Federal courts have paused popular Biden-era programs. Those programs cut down the number of years it takes to reach forgiveness and capped monthly loan bills at 5% of a borrower's income.
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Now, the Department of Education has removed applications for these plans from its website, effectively locking borrowers out from adjusting their plans if they can't pay the standard rate.
A loan expert said anyone who is 91 days delinquent on April 1 will be reported to credit bureaus for the first time in five years.
READ MORE: What is the Department of Education? Here's a look at some of its key functions
What dismantling the Department of Education could mean for schools
"If you're going to buy a car or get an apartment or a mortgage or another credit card, you will see your credit score drop precipitously," Jack Wallace said. "It's important not to ignore the notices you're getting."
If the department is eventually dismantled, student loans could land at the treasury, commerce, or the Small Business Administration.
You can watch that full interview in the video player above.