House Republicans want to end student loan forgiveness for people in public service

The Republican class war continues in the form of a new Higher Education Act reauthorization bill introduced by North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx. This bill has a number of changes to how (and if) Americans can access higher education, but one of the most notable changes has to do with the elimination of several student loan forgiveness programs. The Washington Post reports:

House Republicans are also envisioning the end of loan forgiveness for college graduates who pursue careers in the public sector. The plan, much like the White House budget, would do away with Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a program that wipes away federal student debt for people in the public sector after they have made 10 years’ worth of payments.

The program, enacted in 2007 under President George W. Bush, was designed to encourage college graduates to pursue careers as social workers, teachers, public defenders or doctors in rural areas. 

In the 10 years of its existence, more than 500,000 Americans have registered for public service student loan forgiveness. If the bill passes, anyone who enters the program after June 2018 will no longer be eligible.

The bill is sickeningly titled the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act.