If you are one of the 43 million Americans with federal student loans, you should take steps to retain your student loan records. Borrowers should always keep copies of their student loan information, but at this time, it is crucial that borrowers do so to protect themselves from potential harm.

Why Now?

The Trump administration is threatening to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education (department), and the White House is preparing an executive order calling for its closure. It’s worth noting that the department can only be eliminated through legislation passed by Congress, but a bill was reintroduced by Republican lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) in January 2025 to eliminate the department by December 31, 2026. A different bill was introduced by Republican Sen. Mike Rounds (SD) in November 2024 that would abolish the department and instructs some financial aid programs, including the Direct Loan Program, to be moved to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As of right now, these bills are not moving, and it is unlikely that either of them will pass in the Senate, but that won’t stop this administration from attempting to undercut the department from the inside.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is cutting contracts that support programs within the department, with little transparency or regard for the importance or efficacy of these programs. DOGE has attempted to access sensitive personal information of all federal student loan borrowers, including income and Social Security numbers. On February 24, 2025, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that bars DOGE from accessing student borrowers’ data until March 10, 2025, at 8 a.m.

On February 27, 2025, the department unexpectedly removed the online application for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld an injunction that blocks the Biden administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, which was the most affordable IDR option. Processing of IDR applications and consolidation applications will be paused for at least three months, leaving borrowers in limbo. The actions taken by the department exceed what is necessary to comply with the ruling and could push monthly payments for borrowers to unaffordable levels and hinder their progress toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Although only Congress has the legal authority to eliminate the department, the looming threat of closure, mass firings, removal of IDR applications, and DOGE’s activities mean that borrowers should take steps to protect themselves.

Some borrowers, like Maria from New Mexico, have experienced unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts by the department, despite having their loans forgiven under PSLF. Mismanagement by student loan servicers has jeopardized borrowers’ progress towards forgiveness, and gutting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – one of the few entities holding servicers accountable in defense student borrowers – will only hasten the confusion as vulnerable borrowers are left to fend for themselves.

Save Copies of Your Records

Saving your student loan records is important because upheaval at the department could unintentionally or intentionally lead to processing errors that could harm you financially. If your records are lost, modified, or deleted, you could be charged more, take longer to pay off your debt, lose progress toward PSLF, lose progress toward IDR cancellation, be placed in or removed from forbearance or deferment without your authorization, or face other complications. Having thorough documentation can help you dispute errors and protect yourself from future administrative failures or policy changes.

Which Records You Should Save

To protect yourself, download and take screenshots of your critical loan information. Having a copy of your records could help you correct inaccuracies on your account. Take the following steps to secure your records:

All borrowers:

• Download Data File
• Download Master Promissory Note
• Download 1098-E Tax form
• Download or screenshot communications confirming placement into forbearance or deferment
• Download or screenshot communications confirming loan consolidation
• Screenshot information on loans paid in full
• Screenshot past payment information

Borrowers enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

• Screenshot PSLF payment count tracker
• Screenshot all past qualifying and non-qualifying payments
• Download submitted employment certification forms
• Certify your employment if you haven’t recently

Borrowers enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan:

• Screenshot IDR payment count tracker
• Screenshot all past qualifying and non-qualifying payments
• Download submitted income certification forms

Borrowers who used Fresh Start to get out of default:

• Download or screenshot any communications confirming your loans were removed from default and returned to good standing

Where to Find This Information

To see your student loan records, log in to your online account at Federal Student Aid and visit the website of your student loan servicer.