Overview
- The January 28, 2026 deadline to decide post-class Borrower Defense applications has lapsed with many cases still unresolved.
- Under the Sweet v. Cardona settlement, borrowers without a decision by the deadline are entitled to full relief, including loan discharges, refunds, and credit corrections.
- A federal judge previously ordered the Education Department to process at least 170,000 post-class applications by the original deadline.
- The department first sought an 18‑month extension and then asked to push decisions to July 2027, citing an unexpectedly large pool and staffing constraints.
- Applicant counts are disputed, with the department citing about 207,000 cases and borrower advocates saying there are more than 251,000, while the court has yet to rule on the latest extension and it is unclear if any discharges have begun.