Student loans should remain affordable, not a burden

Student loan borrowers are facing the possibility of significantly higher monthly payments under proposals put forth by House Republicans. These plans aim to offset the cost of President Trump's tax cuts by overhauling federal student loan repayment programs. Estimates indicate that the average borrower could see their monthly bill balloon from $95 to $288 if the GOP proposals succeed. This massive increase of nearly $200 per month would place an enormous burden on millions of Americans struggling with student debt. The proposed changes, such as scrapping the Biden administration's more affordable SAVE repayment plan and eliminating loan forgiveness after a set period, undermine the original intent of income-driven repayment programs – making student loan payments manageable. Denying borrowers a path to eventual debt cancellation after years of responsible payments amounts to a form of perpetual indebtedness. At a time when higher education has become a necessity for many career paths, saddling borrowers with unaffordable loan payments to finance tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy is profoundly unfair. Ensuring access to quality education without crippling financial strain should be a priority. Rather than making college more expensive for the average American, Congress should explore alternative solutions that do not place an undue burden on student loan borrowers.