The Trump administration has announced that, beginning May 5, it will resume collections on defaulted student loans, including the automatic garnishment of wages later this summer.

This policy threatens the livelihoods of millions of Americans, especially the most vulnerable among us: older adults on fixed incomes, working families living paycheck to paycheck, and people who have endured years of economic hardship.

For the past five years, many borrowers have had a reprieve from aggressive collection tactics. But now, instead of offering support or relief, the federal government is choosing to punish people who are simply trying to survive. Wage garnishment means money will be taken directly out of people's paychecks, without regard to whether they can still afford rent, groceries, medical care, or child care.

The cruelty of this decision cannot be overstated. People in default are not lazy or irresponsible, they are struggling. Many face mounting medical bills, care for aging parents, or are recovering from job losses and inflation. Garnishing wages will not solve the student debt crisis. It will only deepen it.

We urge the Department of Education and the Trump administration to immediately reverse course and halt the resumption of collections and wage garnishment for borrowers in default. Instead, invest in real solutions—affordable repayment options, loan forgiveness pathways, and economic policies that prioritize people over punishment.

Don’t force Americans into financial ruin for trying to get an education. We need compassion, not coercion.

Photo: Al Drago/ABACA via Reuters