The Trump administration has promised to eliminate the Department of Education, shifting more responsibility back to the states. States already have significant control over education — particularly when it comes to setting standards and deciding on curriculum, but eliminating the department would have major repercussions for college students.

In a pivotal congressional hearing, Linda McMahon, President Trump's nominee for the Department of Education, outlined her plans for student loan programs, emphasizing the continuation and potential expansion of key initiatives like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Pell Grants.