I write this petition not only for myself, but also on behalf of thousands of other college graduates who have independently supported their academic journeys through federal student loans. Having pursued higher education through college and medical school, I can confidently say that my education would not have been possible without accessible student loan options such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-based loan payment plans. For the educators, law enforcement officers, nurses, first responders, and everyone else who has relied on this program - I know this news about pausing income based repayment for federal student loans and federal student loan forgiveness from the Trump administration was personal.

Federal student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans don't just support aspiring students; they enable our dedication to public service which we so direly need in this country. Without these beneficial programs, many public servants confront the daunting reality of financial hardship.

The average debt accrued by each graduate of medical school in 2023 was $234,597 according to educationdata.org. Moreover, this does NOT include debt accrued from undergraduate education which many of us ALSO funded through the use of federal student loans. Imagine denying loan forgiveness to doctors, nurses, teachers, law enforcement, first responders, military members, PAs, NPs, etc - ALL public servants who dedicate their lives to helping society's most vulnerable populations. Many of us went into our field 10+ years ago with the plan of utilizing income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness in exchange for public service. It made higher education accessible for those of us who would otherwise not have these opportunities. From a more personal standpoint, I know that the ripple effect on public health would be catastrophic especially since this would undoubtedly worsen the growing physician shortage in this country. Wait times in emergency rooms would increase, the wait list to see primary care doctors would only get longer and people would have to travel longer distances to get care that they need if these programs were shut down. 

Preserving federal student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans is more than just an economic issue; it's an issue of safeguarding public health, maintaining societal equity, and ensuring continued investment in our future generations. Let us not downgrade the dreams and potentials of these public servants.

Join this fight to protect your fellow Americans and uphold the promise of education as a right, not a privilege. Sign this petition to let our representatives know that the cancellation of federal student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment is an untenable proposition.