Attorney General Jay Jones has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The lawsuit aims to protect Virginia’s public servants from being excluded from student loan relief following actions by former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The PSLF program, established in 2007, allows teachers, nurses, police officers, lawyers, social workers, and other public service employees to have their student loan balances forgiven after ten years of qualifying payments. Many public servants have relied on this program as an incentive for choosing lower-paying roles in service to their communities.
Attorney General Jones said, “It is not only illegal, but cruel to pull the rug out from under our dedicated public servants who have been diligently repaying their student loans year after year with the promise of relief through loan forgiveness. This is yet another example of the president’s continued attack on public servants, jeopardizing their financial stability and raising costs. As Attorney General I will always fight to protect our workers and keep costs low.”
According to Jones’ office, altering the PSLF rules could disrupt borrowers’ lives and increase default rates among federal student loan holders. One in four federal student loan borrowers are already delinquent or in default. The office noted that these changes come at a time when many Americans face tough decisions about everyday expenses like groceries and rent.
The Office of the Attorney General of Virginia supports civil rights enforcement and victim assistance programs as described on its official website. It also provides legal counsel and representation to state agencies while promoting public safety and defending constitutional rights (source). Additionally, the office serves communities across Virginia with consumer protection resources and addresses issues such as human trafficking and domestic violence (details).
The Attorney General’s efforts reflect ongoing commitments to assist Virginians through various support programs while serving the entire Commonwealth (official site).
