Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended; Student Assistance General Provisions; Federal Perkins Loan Program; Federal Family Education Loan Program; and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

AGENCY:

Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION:

Final regulations.

SUMMARY:

The Secretary establishes new regulations governing the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program to establish a new Federal standard and a process for determining whether a borrower has a defense to repayment on a loan based on an act or omission of their school. We also are amending the Direct Loan Program regulations to prohibit participating schools from using certain contractual provisions regarding dispute resolution processes and to require certain notifications and disclosures by institutions (institutions or schools) regarding their use of mandatory arbitration. Additionally, we are amending the Direct Loan regulations to eliminate interest capitalization in instances where it is not required by statute. We are also amending the regulations governing closed school discharges and total and permanent disability (TPD) discharges in the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins), Direct Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs. We are also amending the regulations governing false certification discharges in the Direct Loan and FFEL programs. Finally, we are amending the regulations governing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) in the Direct Loan program to improve the application process, and to clarify and expand definitions for full-time employment, qualifying employers, and qualifying monthly payments. The changes would bring greater transparency and clarity and improve the administration of Federal student financial aid programs to assist and protect students, participating institutions, and taxpayers.

DATES:

These regulations are effective July 1, 2023. For the implementation dates of the regulatory provisions, see the Implementation Date of These Regulations in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information related to interest capitalization, contact Vanessa Freeman at (202) 987-1336 or by email at vanessa.freeman@ed.gov. For further information related to borrower defenses to repayment (BD) or pre-dispute arbitration, contact Rene Tiongquico at (202) 453-7513 or by email at rene.tiongquico@ed.gov. For further information related to TPD, closed school, and false certification discharges, contact Brian Smith at (202) 987-1327 or by email at brian.smith@ed.gov. For further information related to PSLF, contact Tamy Abernathy at (202) 453-5970 or by email at tamy.abernathy@ed.gov.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

The Secretary amends the regulations in seven areas affecting the Direct Loan Program and several areas that also affect the Perkins Loan Program or the FFEL Program. First, we amend the regulations governing the Direct Loan Program to establish a new Federal standard and process for determining whether a borrower has a defense to repayment of a loan. We also limit the use of certain contractual provisions regarding dispute resolution processes by participating institutions and require certain notifications and disclosures by institutions regarding their use of mandatory arbitration. Additionally, we amend the Perkins, Direct Loan, and FFEL program regulations to improve the process for granting TPD discharges by eliminating the income monitoring period, expanding the circumstances in which borrowers can qualify for discharges based on a finding of disability by the Social Security Administration, expanding allowable documentation, and allowing additional health care professionals to provide a certification that a borrower is totally and permanently disabled. We further amend the closed school discharge provisions in the Perkins Loan, Direct Loan, and FFEL programs to expand borrower eligibility for automatic discharges and eliminate provisions pertaining to reenrollment in a comparable program. Additionally, we amend the Direct Loan and FFEL regulations to streamline the regulations governing false certification discharges. We also amend the Direct Loan regulations to eliminate interest capitalization in instances where it is not required by statute. Finally, we amend regulations governing PSLF in the Direct Loan program to improve the application process and to clarify and expand the definitions of full-time employment, employee or employed, and qualifying monthly payments. The changes will bring greater transparency and clarity and improve the administration of Federal student financial aid programs to assist and protect students, participating institutions, and taxpayers.

Purpose of This Regulatory Action

Summary of the Major Provisions of This Regulatory Action

The final regulations—

• Amend the Direct Loan regulations to establish a new Federal standard for BD claims applicable to applications received on or after July 1, 2023. Applications pending on July 1, 2023, will also be considered under the new standard. In addition, this final rule expands the existing definition of misrepresentation, provides an additional basis for a BD claim based on aggressive and deceptive recruitment practices, and allows claims based on State law standards for loans first disbursed prior to July 1, 2017.
• Provide that the Department will use a preponderance of the evidence standard to determine whether the institution committed an actionable act or omission and, as a result, the borrower suffered detriment, such that the circumstances warrant BD relief and the borrower's BD claim should be approved. In determining whether relief is warranted the Secretary will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers.
• Provide for a full discharge of all remaining loan balances and a refund of all amounts paid to the Secretary for loans associated with an approved BD claim.
• Establish processes for group BD claims that may be formed in response to evidence provided by third-party requestors or at the Secretary's discretion, including based on prior Secretarial Final Actions. We define Secretarial Final Actions as fine, limitation, suspension, or termination actions taken by the Department against the institution, denying the institution's application for recertification, or revoking the institution's provisional program participation agreement.

• Stop interest accrual on the borrowers' loans beginning 180 days after the initial grant of forbearance or stopped collections in the case of an individual BD claim and immediately upon formation for a group BD claim.

• Issue decisions on claims within a certain period or the loans will be deemed unenforceable.
• Establish a reconsideration process for review of denied BD claims.
• Establish a process for recouping the cost of approved discharges.
• Prohibit institutions that wish to participate in title IV programs from requiring borrowers to agree to mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements or waiver of class action lawsuits.
• Require institutions to disclose publicly and notify the Secretary of judicial and arbitration filings and awards pertaining to a BD claim.
• Eliminate interest capitalization on Direct Loans where such capitalization is not required by statute.
• Modify the Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loan regulations to streamline the application process for a TPD discharge by expanding the Department's use of Social Security Administration (SSA) continuing disability review codes beyond “Medical Improvement Not Expected” when deciding if a borrower qualifies for TPD discharge.
• Revise the Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loan regulations to eliminate the 3-year post-discharge income monitoring period for borrowers eligible for TPD discharge to allow borrowers to retain their discharges without unnecessary paperwork burden.
• Allow borrowers to receive a TPD discharge if the established onset date of their disability as determined by SSA was at least 5 years prior to the application to better align the regulations with statutory requirements for a TPD discharge.
• Expand the list of health professionals who may certify that a borrower is totally and permanently disabled to include licensed nurse practitioners (NPs), physician's assistants (PAs), and clinical psychologists to help borrowers more easily complete the application for a TPD discharge.
• Amend the Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loan regulations to simplify the closed school discharge process by expanding access to automatic discharges and clarify the circumstances when borrowers who reenroll in a comparable program are not eligible for a discharge.
• Streamline the FFEL and Direct Loan false certification regulations to provide one set of regulatory standards that will cover all false certification discharge claims.
• Clarify that, to determine eligibility for a false certification discharge, the Department relies on the borrower's status at the time the Direct loan was originated, and at the time the FFEL loan was certified.
• Revise the regulations for PSLF to improve the application process, expand what counts as an eligible monthly payment, expand the definition of “full-time” employment, and provide additional clarifying definitions of public service employment to reduce confusion and to clearly establish the definitions of qualifying employment for borrowers.
• Expand the definition of “employee” or “employed” to include someone who works as a contracted employee for a qualifying employer in a position or provides services which, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer.

Background

Affordability of postsecondary education and student loan debt have been significant challenges for many Americans. Total outstanding student loan debt has risen over the past 10 years as student loan repayment has slowed, while the inability to repay student loan debt has been cited as a major obstacle to entry into the middle class.

This final rule provides several significant improvements to existing programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) that grant loan discharges to borrowers who meet specific eligibility conditions. Despite the presence of these discharge authorities for years, the Department is concerned that too many borrowers have been unable to access loan relief authorized by statute. In some situations, this has been due to regulatory requirements that created unnecessary or unfair burdens for borrowers.

The final rule makes changes related to discharges available to borrowers in the three major Federal student loan programs: Direct Loans, FFEL, and Perkins Loans. The most significant effects are in the Direct Loan program, which has been the predominant source of all new Federal student loans since 2010. In this program, the Department makes loans directly to the borrower and then contracts with private companies known as student loan servicers to manage the borrower's repayment experience on behalf of the Department. Several components of these regulations, such as interest capitalization, BD, the prohibition on the use of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers, and the PSLF program only apply to Direct Loans. Other provisions addressed in these regulations, such as closed school discharge, and TPD discharges, affect Direct Loans as well as loans previously made under the FFEL Program and the Perkins Loan Program. False certification discharges only affect Direct Loans and FFEL Program loans. In the FFEL program, private lenders made Federally insured and subsidized student loans using their own funds. The lender was protected from the risk of default or loss by Federal insurance. In the Perkins program, institutions issued Federal student loans using a combination of Federal and institutional funds.

The negotiated rulemaking committee (Committee) that considered the draft regulations on these topics reached consensus on the proposed regulations relating to interest capitalization, false certification discharges, and TPD; they did not reach consensus on BD, pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers, closed school discharge, or PSLF.

On July 13, 2022, the Secretary published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for these parts in the Federal Register . The NPRM included proposed regulations on which the Committee reached consensus and the Department's proposed rules for those issues where consensus was not reached. These final regulations reflect the results of those negotiations and respond to the public comments received on the regulatory proposals in the NPRM. The final regulations also contain changes from the NPRM, which are fully explained in the Analysis of Comments and Changes section of this document. These final rules do not speak to one issue raised by commenters in response to the NPRM—whether and in what circumstances private for-profit employers, including those that provide early childhood services, should be treated as qualifying employers for the purposes of PSLF. That issue, and the responses to comments related to it, will be addressed in a future final rule. The Department is separating this issue for a future final rule because we received significant and detailed comments in response to our questions around the possible treatment of for-profit companies that provide early childhood education as qualifying employers for PSLF. These comments included a number of proposals that address operational, legal, and policy considerations, which the Department needs additional time to consider.

Costs and Benefits: As further detailed in the Regulatory Impact Analysis, the benefits of the final regulations include: (1) a clarified process for BD discharge applications assisted by the creation of a primary Federal standard to streamline the Department's consideration of applications, while affording institutions an opportunity to respond to allegations contained in BD claims; (2) increased opportunities for borrowers to seek relief from institutional misconduct by prohibiting the use of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers; (3) improved school conduct and offsetting some of the costs of discharges to the Federal government and taxpayers as a result of holding individual institutions financially accountable for BD discharges and deterring misconduct; (4) increased automated discharges for borrowers, with the option to opt out; and (5) improved access to and expanded eligibility for, where appropriate, PSLF, closed school, TPD, and false certification discharges.

The costs to taxpayers in the form of transfers include BD claims that are not reimbursed by institutions; additional relief through closed school, PSLF, TPD, and false certification discharges to borrowers through programs to which they are legally entitled under the HEA; and the foregone interest where capitalizing interest is not required. The paperwork burden associated with reporting and disclosure requirements necessary to ensure compliance with these regulations represents an additional cost to institutions.

Implementation Date of These Regulations: Section 482(c) of the HEA requires that regulations affecting programs under title IV of the HEA be published in final form by November 1, prior to the start of the award year (July 1) to which they apply. That section also permits the Secretary to designate any regulation as one that an entity subject to the regulations may choose to implement earlier and the conditions for early implementation.

Consistent with the Department's objective to improve the implementation of PSLF, the Secretary intends to exercise his authority under section 482(c) to designate the simplified definition for full-time employment in PSLF as a provision that an entity subject to the provision may, in the entity's discretion, choose to implement prior to the effective date of July 1, 2023. The Secretary may specify in the designation when, and under what conditions, an entity may implement the provision prior to the effective date. The Secretary will publish any designation under this subparagraph in the Federal Register .

The Secretary does not intend to exercise his authority to designate any other regulations in this document for early implementation. The final regulations included in this document are effective July 1, 2023.

Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the July 13, 2022, NPRM, 4,094 parties submitted comments on the proposed regulations. In this preamble, we respond to those comments.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

We developed these regulations through negotiated rulemaking. Section 492 of the HEA requires that, before publishing any proposed regulations to implement programs under title IV of the HEA, the Secretary must obtain public involvement in the development of the proposed regulations. After obtaining advice and recommendations, the Secretary must conduct a negotiated rulemaking process to develop the proposed regulations. The negotiated rulemaking Committee considered each issue separately to determine consensus and reached consensus on the proposed regulations addressing interest capitalization, TPD, and false certification discharges. The Committee did not reach consensus on the remaining proposed regulations that we published on July 13, 2022.

We group major issues according to subject, with appropriate sections of the regulations referenced in parentheses. We discuss other substantive issues under the sections of the regulations to which they pertain. Generally, we do not address minor, non-substantive changes (such as renumbering paragraphs, adding in a word, or typographical errors). Additionally, we do not address recommended changes that the statute does not authorize the Secretary to make (such as forgiving all student loans, setting interest rates to 0 percent, or providing forgiveness under PSLF after 60 payments instead of 120) or comments pertaining to operational processes. We also do not address comments pertaining to issues that were not within the scope of the NPRM. An analysis of the public comments received and of the changes in the regulations since publication of the NPRM follows.

Negotiated Rulemaking

Comments: A few commenters suggested the negotiated rulemaking table must include representatives from civil rights organizations as well as student representation, stating that communities and people of color are disproportionately impacted by postsecondary education and need to be included in rulemaking discussions. These commenters further urged the Department to include more than two student representatives in negotiated rulemaking, noting that student representatives were outnumbered more than two to one by higher education and lending industry representatives. Other commenters suggested that for-profit institutions are significantly impacted by these regulations and should have had more representation at negotiated rulemaking. Finally, numerous commenters said the negotiated rulemaking process felt rushed because of the number of issues involved and holding the meetings virtually. They suggested the Department return to in-person negotiated rulemaking.

Discussion: On August 10, 2021, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking Committee to prepare proposed regulations for these issues. The notice set forth a schedule for the Committee meetings and requested nominations for individual negotiators to serve on the committee. As we stated in that solicitation and request for nominations for negotiators, we select individual negotiators who reflect the diversity among program participants, in accordance with Sec. 492(b)(1) of the HEA. Our goal was to establish a Committee and a Subcommittee that allowed significantly affected parties to be represented while keeping the Committee size manageable.

As the Federal negotiator explained in the first negotiated rulemaking session, the Department deliberately placed students front and center in the discussion by including constituencies for dependent students, independent students, and student loan borrowers. As with all other Committee representatives, each of these constituencies had primary representatives and alternates. The Department believes the negotiated rulemaking Committee captured the diverse universe of students.

While the Department did not identify civil rights organizations as a stand-alone constituency for this negotiated rulemaking table, representatives from that group had several opportunities to be involved with negotiated rulemaking, including during the public comment period after each rulemaking session and by submitting written comments on the proposed rule. In fact, several civil rights organizations submitted comments to the Department. With respect to the request for greater representation of proprietary schools, the Department believes it correctly identified proprietary institutions as a single constituency group. None of the negotiated topics discussed during these sessions related solely to the proprietary sector. Moreover, these institutions represent a smaller share of students than those in the private nonprofit sector, which also had only a single representative.

The full negotiated rulemaking Committee reached agreement on its protocols, including the constituencies represented on the committee and committee membership.

Finally, the Department disagrees that the negotiated rulemaking process was rushed. We conducted three public hearings to comment on the rulemaking agenda. We also held three negotiated rulemaking sessions that ran for five days each from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, which included a half hour of public comment every day except the final day of the last session. The Department gave stakeholders and members of the public the opportunity to weigh in on the development of the language reflected in the regulations through a public comment period.

Changes: None.

Public Comment Period

Comments: Several commenters requested a 45- or 60-day comment period on the proposed rules. Some of these commenters asserted that under the principles of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563, the Department must adhere to at least a 60-day comment period.

Discussion: The Department shares commenters' belief in the importance of giving the public a robust opportunity to publicly comment on the Department's regulations. The Department received thousands of written comments and considered every comment it received in response to the NPRM. We note that the negotiated rulemaking process provides significantly more opportunity for public engagement and feedback than notice-and-comment rulemaking without a negotiated rulemaking component. The Department began this process of developing regulations more than a year ago by inviting public input through a series of public hearings in June 2021. We selected negotiators to represent a range of constituencies. During the negotiated rulemaking sessions, the Department provided opportunities for the public to comment throughout the process, including after seeing draft regulatory text—some of which was available prior to the first session and all of which was available prior to the second and third sessions. Each of these opportunities took place before the formal comment period on the proposed rules. Considering these efforts, the Department believes that the 30-day public comment period was sufficient time for interested parties to submit comments. The 30-day comment period on the NPRM is not unique, and the Department has fully complied with the appropriate Executive Orders regarding public comments. First, the Department notes that over the last several years and under multiple Administrations, the Department has relied on a 30-day comment period for many regulations including: BD; distance education and innovation; and rescission of the gainful employment regulations.

Second, while the Executive Orders cited by the commenters direct each agency to afford the public a meaningful opportunity to comment, those Executive Orders do not require a 60-day comment period.

Unlike simple notice-and-comment rulemaking, the negotiated rulemaking process affords ample opportunities for the public to not only comment but also to understand the Department's proposed rules and policies. We livestreamed the complete negotiated rulemaking sessions on our website, posted recordings of the livestreams, as well as the transcripts of the rulemaking sessions for later review. In addition, we provided an opportunity for public comment at the end of each day the committee met, and posted each iteration of draft proposed regulatory text that the committee reviewed. Thus, the Department has met the requirements provided in those Executive Orders to afford the public a meaningful opportunity to comment and participate in the Department's rulemaking process.

Changes: None.

Borrower Defense to Repayment—General (§ 685.401)

General Support for Regulations

Comments: The Department received many comments in support of the proposed regulations on BD accompanied by testimonial accounts of borrowers' experiences at institutions and the loan debt they incurred. One commenter, for example, felt that institutions need to better inform students about their academic programs, as well as employment prospects after graduation. Many commenters supported the proposed regulations because they felt the 2019 BD regulations required borrowers to meet an unrealistic standard that made it extremely difficult to prove harm. Commenters further cited the anticipated low approval rates for BD claims under the 2019 BD regulations compared to the 2016 BD regulations as further support for creating a new set of regulations that are more balanced toward students. Commenters also expressed support for many specific elements of the NPRM, including a strong upfront Federal standard, the addition of aggressive and deceptive recruitment as a type of act or omission that could give rise to an approved claim, the ability to adjudicate group claims, the opportunity for State requestors to submit applications for considering group claims, the clearer inclusion of FFEL loans, codifying procedures such as stopping the accumulation of interest, and establishing deadlines for reviewing claims. Other commenters supported the proposed regulations citing that they are more streamlined, easier to administer, less confusing, and they eliminate unreasonable burdens on borrowers.

Discussion: We appreciate the comments in support of our proposals. We believe these final regulations strike the right balance of creating a process that will result in BD discharges, where appropriate, while denying claims without merit. In doing so, the Department believes these regulations will clarify the claims process for borrowers and institutions, create transparent and realistic timelines, and make the process easier to administer.

These regulations also provide a path for recouping the cost of approved discharges from institutions when warranted and after significant due process opportunities. We address commenters' arguments with respect to specific provisions of the regulations in the sections of this preamble specific to those provisions.

Changes: None.

General Opposition to Regulations

Comments: Many commenters expressed general concerns about the regulations. These commenters believe that the regulations would lead to frivolous claims and greater costs to institutions, both in terms of defending against recoupment efforts associated with what commenters described as claims that should not have been approved, but also reputational harm for institutions, the potential for actions by other regulators, loss of private financing, and the possibility of borrower lawsuits. Similarly, some former students expressed concern that their degrees would be devalued if the institution they attended had BD claims approved against it.

Commenters also argued that the Department lacks the legal authority to issue these regulations, that components of the regulations were too vague, that institutions are not afforded sufficient due process under the proposed rules, and that the regulations represented impermissible Departmental involvement in matters of State law. Commenters also expressed displeasure with other specific components of the regulations, such as the proposed group process.

Discussion: As we explained in the NPRM, despite the presence of the BD discharge authority for decades, the Department is concerned that too many borrowers who were subjected to an act or omission by their institution that should give rise to a successful defense to repayment have not received appropriate relief, at least in part because the regulatory requirements have created unnecessary or unfair burdens for borrowers. In these rules, the Department crafted a BD framework that strikes a balance between providing transparency, clarity, and ease of administration while simultaneously giving adequate protections to borrowers, institutions, the Department, and the public monies that fund Federal student loans.

The Department believes that the proposed rule included procedures that would allow it to deny claims that lacked sufficient evidence or that did not meet the standard for a BD claim. In particular, under the proposed rules, the Department would obtain information from institutions and, in the case of a claim alleging misrepresentation by the institution, require a showing of reasonable reliance by the borrower. Nevertheless, in this final rule we have adopted additional changes suggested by commenters to clarify the standard that must be met for a claim to be approved and to specify how the Department will ensure claims include sufficient detail to permit consideration by the Department. The final regulations require that, to approve a claim, the Department must conclude that the institution's act or omission is an actionable ground for BD that caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief (the Federal standard definition for a BD in § 685.401). This general standard incorporates enumerated categories of conduct (“actionable act or omission”) that affect the fairness of the transaction underlying the borrower's loan obligation. (Unless otherwise indicated hereinafter, “act or omission” refers to an “ actionable act or omission” within the meaning of the BD standard and is shortened to aid with readability.) This standard provides that a borrower must suffer detriment as a result of the conduct, which incorporates the conventional elements of injury and causation. It also requires that the outcome of the borrower's loan-and-enrollment transaction was financial harm, lost value, or other cognizable injury caused by the actionable conduct. Finally, it requires that the circumstances of the borrower's resulting detriment warrant the form of relief—discharge of the entire remaining loan balance, refund of all payments made to the Secretary, and other remedial measures such as removing the borrower from default and updating credit reports. There will be a rebuttable presumption that such relief is warranted in cases involving closed schools, which reflects past experience. This standard thus establishes the concept that the institution's act or omission and the detriment they cause must be of such a nature that the remedy provided would be appropriate—specifically, a discharge of all remaining loan obligations, refund of all past amounts paid to the Secretary, and curative steps related to default, credit-reporting, and eligibility, if applicable. An act or omission resulting in borrower detriment that is marginal or attenuated from the decision to borrow or enroll would thus not be grounds for an approval because the relief of a full discharge, refund, and associated steps would not be an appropriate remedy. In considering whether an institution's acts or omissions caused detriment that warrants this form of relief, the Department would consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the act or omission and of the harm or injury along with other relevant factors. The standard also reflects the Department's experience that the circumstances warranting such relief are likely to exist in cases involving closed schools shown to have committed actionable acts or omissions, and the standard thus provides a rebuttable presumption that relief is warranted in those cases.

Under this standard and its accompanying regulations, the Department will have flexibility in determining the universe of evidence to be considered, while ensuring that relief-worthy claims are supported by sufficient evidence of the institution's wrongdoing. The Department is also providing greater clarity regarding what constitutes a materially complete application that can then be adjudicated (§§ 685.402(c) and 685.403(b)), which will ensure that applications include a sufficient degree of detail and, where applicable, evidentiary support.

These regulations should have a deterrent effect dissuading institutions from engaging in conduct that would give rise to a defense to repayment. To be clear, however, the Department does not consider recoupment for the amounts of BD discharges to be a sanction or punishment for the acts or omissions that impugn the underlying transaction involving a borrower's enrollment, tuition, and loan. The deterrent effect that flows from the risk of punishment is applied by operation of the Department's regulations providing for fine, suspension, termination, and other sanctions.

The regulations should, however, have the type of deterrent effect that proceeds from predictably ensuring parties fulfill the commitments they have made. By setting forth a clearer and more robust Federal standard for BD claims and a rigorous group claim process, institutions that might otherwise engage in questionable behavior will change their practices and act more ethically and truthfully. That is, the Department believes the standards and processes in this rule will mitigate the risk of moral hazard if unfulfilled commitments are ignored. The Department believes there will be a future deterrent effect even in the situations where the institution is not held liable for the expense of the approved discharge because there would be a higher likelihood of successful recoupment on more recently disbursed loans.

In this context, the Department notes that the circumstances in which an institution is most likely to face considerable costs related to BD claims are likely the strongest indication of actionable wrongdoing. BD applications filed by State regulators following investigations that find acts or omissions, and cases with a significantly large volume of independently filed individual applications with common claims, are two such examples. Furthermore, we believe that the regulations requiring borrowers to submit materially complete individual applications will increase the quality and detail of claims without posing unnecessary barriers for borrowers.

The Department also does not agree that the commenters' concerns about reputational harm for institutions, the potential for actions by other regulators, and the possibility of borrower lawsuits solely stemming from approved claims are reasons to make significant changes to the proposed rules. To the extent commenters refer to the risk of erroneous BD decisions causing harm to the institution, we will only grant a discharge when adequate evidentiary support exists—a finding that will occur only after considering evidence and arguments submitted by the institution. Additionally, we only assess liabilities against the institution if we initiate a recoupment action. That action will afford schools the same procedural rights and protections available in any other situation in which an institution is assessed a monetary liability associated with title IV.

Regarding potential risks for institutions independent of actual liability determinations, the Department notes that the HEA clearly provides borrowers the right to assert a defense to repayment based on an alleged wrongdoing by an institution in the same way any consumer may invoke legal remedies against a seller or service provider. The Department is obligated to consider those claims. The Department does not conclude that concerns about hypothetical institutional harms, independent of actual liability determinations, override the concern for students harmed by institutional misconduct and the Department's obligation to consider claims alleging such harm.

To the extent commenters are concerned with risks flowing from the sole act of the Department granting claims, irrespective of recoupment or any determination of actual liability on the school's part, the Department does not consider the marginal risk of such harm to warrant conditioning borrower relief on a finding of school liability or changing the sequence of those determinations. Were the Department to make borrower relief and school liability coextensive or to make each adjudicatory step an adversarial process between the borrower and the school, it would create unrealistic barriers for borrowers and an insurmountable administrative burden for the Department.

Furthermore, although the Department must disclose certain records upon request, it does not publicize the outcomes of individual BD applications. Commenters did not point to specific or particularized harm that any open school has suffered as a result of the Department granting any individual applications in the past. At least one comment from an institution referenced inquiries it had received from a State regulator and a lender because the settlement agreement that, at the time of this final rule, has received preliminary approval. The commenter said the part of the settlement agreement to automatically discharge all claims associated with that school was an indicator of reputational harm. That example simply mentioned inquiries, however, and no actual harm suffered. We believe those concerns are unwarranted. The relief for class members described in that proposed settlement was agreed to in order to resolve that particular litigation and undertaken in exercise of the Secretary's settlement and compromise authority. It does not reflect “approved” BD claims or involve the process contemplated by the proposed regulation.

To the extent that harm from solely granting a borrower's claim could be shown, either now or in the future, that is simply a by-product of the statute and structure of title IV. First, by its terms, the defense to repayment under the HEA is invoked against the Department, not schools. For that reason, regulations giving context to the HEA's BD provision must principally address the circumstances in which borrowers invoke that defense. Properly separating the BD discharge decisions from liability determinations provides a process that is administratively feasible for the Department and allows borrowers to have claims based on that defense asserted and resolved in a realistic way.

Second, the risk of harm from relief determinations between the borrower and the Department, to the extent there is any, is simply a by-product of participation in title IV that schools are aware of when they seek eligibility. Indeed, the processes set forth in the HEA and Department regulations, including Department BD relief determinations, are expressly incorporated into schools' program participation agreements (PPAs). Title IV funding is structured such that schools receive federal funds that can be used to pay tuition and fees up front and leave the subsequent details of repayment, including defenses thereto, to borrowers and the Department. If the Department's resolution of borrower claims implicates some attenuated risks, without any determination of actual liability, then that is simply a by-product of title IV's inherent structure.

The Department also notes that institutional participation in the Direct Loan program is voluntary, and the BD rules, including possible BD liability, have been part of the program almost since its inception. The proposed regulation has incorporated safe harbors so as not to enlarge schools' liability for past conduct beyond what was included in past versions of the regulation and provided robust procedural rights in cases where the Department assesses actual liability against the school. If, going forward, institutions find the risk of hypothetical collateral risks too great, they can easily avoid those risks by choosing not to participate in title IV loan programs.

Finally, regarding the potential for regulatory scrutiny from other agencies or borrower lawsuits, the Department does not dictate evidentiary standards applicable to other regulators, nor do our regulations impact the pleading rules or evidentiary standards for borrower lawsuits.

Changes: We revised the Federal standard for BD applications received on or after July 1, 2023, and for applications pending with the Secretary on July 1, 2023, in § 685.401(b) to provide that a borrower with a balance due on a covered loan will be determined to have a defense to repayment if we conclude that the institution's act or omission caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. We also added language in § 685.401(e) noting that in determining whether a detriment caused by an institution's act or omission warrants relief under this section, the Secretary will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers. For borrowers who attended a closed school shown to have committed actionable acts or omissions that caused the borrower detriment, there will be a rebuttable presumption that the detriment suffered warrants relief under this section. We also revised the definition of a materially complete individual application in § 685.403(b) and the requirements for third-party requestor applications in § 685.402(c) to ensure the Department obtains the information it needs to make appropriate determinations under the Federal standard.

Comments: In the NPRM, the Department noted that one of its concerns about the 2019 regulation was how it addressed the issue of common evidence—the Department's term for evidence that could be applied to similarly situated borrowers. In the NPRM, we also stated that the 2019 regulations limited the Department's ability to consider common evidence held in its possession. A few commenters asserted that we mischaracterized the 2019 regulation, pointing to a section of that final rule that states the Department was allowed to consider common evidence during adjudication so long as it was shared with both the borrower and the institution and that they are given the opportunity to respond to it. Other commenters argued that it would be difficult for a borrower to show individualized harm under the 2019 regulation.

Discussion: We appreciate the commenters' perspective and reiterate that the Department remains concerned about burdens placed on applicants under the 2019 regulations. The commenters are correct that, under the 2019 regulations, the Department may employ common evidence for consideration of individual claims. But the Department's greater concern is that the 2019 regulations do not allow for the consideration of group claims, for which employing common evidence across the group is important. Our statement about limits on use of common evidence was primarily made in that context.

The 2019 regulations also required the borrower to prove individualized harm. Our experience in processing claims has shown that certain calculations used to determine the amount of relief in the 2019 regulations would be an inappropriate barrier to relief for the borrower, not because harm did not occur, but because the process to show individualized harm required the borrower to have knowledge about regional and national employment opportunities. We believe that a borrower is unlikely to know how to locate regional or national unemployment rates and connect those data to their own experience.

Changes: None.

Legal Authority

Comments: Several commenters asserted that the Department lacks statutory authority to regulate on BD. Specifically, several commenters stated the Department does not have the statutory authority to design a process that facilitates the discharge of loans. Commenters further argued that the proposed regulations and BD framework will result in the unallowable discharge of loans that in turn will cause increased inflation. Commenters argued that the Department is limited to specifying which institutional acts or omissions may form the basis of a BD claim. The commenters further stated the proposed rule will result in an unprecedented and unlawful mass discharge of student loans.

Discussion: We disagree with these commenters who state that the Department lacks the statutory authority to regulate on BD. Throughout the NPRM, we explain that Sec. 455(h) of the HEA requires the Secretary to specify in regulations which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a defense to the repayment of a Direct Loan ( i.e., a borrower defense). In addition to Sec. 455(h), Sec. 410 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) gives the Secretary authority to make, promulgate, issue, rescind, and amend rules and regulations governing the applicable programs administered by the Department and the manner in which they are operated. Under Sec. 414 of the Department of Education Organization Act, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as the Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to administer and manage the functions of the Secretary or the Department. These general provisions, together with the HEA provision noted above, authorize the Department to promulgate regulations that govern defense to repayment standards, process, adjudication, and institutional liability. We note that the Department has had regulations on this issue since the inception of the Direct Loan Program in 1994 and the Department's authority to issue those regulations has not been questioned by Congress or the courts.

Collectively, the authorities granted to the Secretary in the HEA and other general provisions provide the statutory basis to develop a BD framework. In response to the comment that this regulatory scheme is unprecedented and unlawful, the Department reminds commenters that the collapse of the Corinthian Colleges (Corinthian) and the flood of claims submitted by Corinthian students stemming from the institution's misconduct necessitated the need for a more robust BD regulatory framework. Prior to Corinthian's precipitous closure, BD was a rarely used discharge despite the fact that those regulations existed since 1995. And the number of BD applications has not meaningfully abated in the years since Corinthian's closure, further supporting the continued need for clear regulations to address claims from hundreds of thousands of borrowers. Here, based on the Department's broad statutory authority, we are building upon the lessons learned from past BD frameworks to ensure borrowers have full access to the discharge provided by law.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested the proposed rule is unconstitutional because the separation of powers doctrine precludes the Department from adjudicating liability between students and institutions. The commenters further stated the Department proposes to delegate to itself the authority to adjudicate traditional common law actions and defenses. The commenters noted that there is a “public rights” exception to the separation of powers doctrine that applies when the sole source of recovery is a Federal statute, but that such exception does not apply here where some of the underlying bases supporting a BD claim are more typically the province of the courts. Along similar grounds, some commenters argued that the inclusion of breaches of contract based upon State law also violated the separation of powers.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters. As an initial matter, BD adjudications do not involve determinations of private rights as between schools and borrowers. As we explain in several sections of this document and as we explained in the 2016 final rule, borrowers have certain rights regarding the obligation to repay a loan made by the Federal Government, including the right to raise defenses to collection of the loan. Additionally, the Federal Government has the right to recover liabilities from the school for losses incurred as a result of the act or omission of the school participating in the Federal loan program. That is, a defense to repayment against the Department does not involve schools, and should the Department seek recoupment, any issues of school liability are separately determined in independent proceedings—a distinction that is even clearer under these regulations' approach. In that context, the Department's BD adjudication process is not resolving disputes that would otherwise be litigated between schools and borrowers in an Article III court or state court of general jurisdiction.

Additionally, with very limited exceptions, BD adjudications do not involve the enforcement of common law causes of action at all. That is, they apply a federal standard that differs from that of actions for common law fraud or contract. Although a BD claim may incorporate common law principles, it differs with respect to the claim's scope, application, and available remedies. The limited exception is for claims based on loans disbursed before July 1, 2017, which if denied may invoke state-law causes of action in a request for reconsideration. But even in such cases, the dispute does not involve claims between two private parties in the same way as cases that implicate separation-of-powers concerns.

To the extent that entertaining state-law claims on reconsideration implicates “private rights” limitations, those rights are asserted against or by a Federal agency and have the character of public rights, even if the resolution of those rights invokes some common law principles because it turns on application of State law.

Finally, there is no separation-of-powers issue here because BD claims and potential subsequent recoupment actions are adjudicated through processes to which both the borrower and participant school have consented.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters contend that the proposed BD regulation violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and that the proposed regulations are arbitrary and capricious. These commenters claimed the Department does not “examine the relevant data,” nor does it rest its conclusions on “factual findings,” or a “reasoned explanation” for these BD regulations as required by the APA. Commenters argued that the Department did not sufficiently explain the basis for its changes from the 2019 regulation. Commenters argued that because the Department has not enforced the 2019 regulation, it could not have conducted an analysis of the 2019 regulation's impact. Commenters also argued that citing estimates from regulatory impact analyses issued with prior regulations was not sufficient justification for making a change.

Discussion: We disagree with these commenters. In taking this regulatory action, we have considered relevant data and factors, considered and responded to comments, and articulated a reasoned basis for our actions. The Department gathered substantial evidence to support the positions taken in these regulations, as described in painstaking detail in the NPRM and in this document.

As a threshold matter, the absence of adjudications under the 2019 rule is not a “refusal to administer it,” as one comment claims, and instead simply reflects practical circumstances. That is, the 2019 regulation went into effect on July 1, 2020. This fell between two important events. The first occurred roughly three months earlier when the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections stemming from the COVID-19 national emergency began. Because this pause affected all new loans, loan issued on or after July 1, 2020, have not entered repayment. Without an ongoing loan payment, a borrower may not yet fully appreciate the effects of enrolling in a program or institution and incurring student loans due to one of the bases for borrower defense.

The second event occurred about three months after the regulation's effective date, when in October 2020, the Department entered a stipulation in the then-titled case Sweet v. DeVos agreeing not deny any claims of class members—which, until the settlement agreement, was defined as any borrower with a pending borrower defense claim—until the court reached a final judgment on the merits. It would have been effectively impossible for a new borrower to have a claim reviewed under the 2019 regulation prior to that October stipulation, since they would have had to take the loan out roughly three months prior, file a claim almost immediately, and get a decision.

Nonetheless, the Department did perform initial reviews of some claims that would have been covered by the 2019 regulation in connection with borrowers consolidating older loans but found that all of them would have been barred by the regulation's statute of limitations. However, because it had stipulated that it would not issue denials, it could not adjudicate those claims and issue a final agency decision.

It would also make little practical sense to address the relatively sparse volume of pending claims subject to the 2019 regulation (approximately 3 percent of claims filed since July 1, 2020) in light of the large volume of pending claims it does not cover. The Department has a significant number of pending claims stemming from the lack of decisions being rendered on claims for multiple years. The number of claims filed has only increased since then. To address that backlog without violating the commitment on denials, the Department has prioritized claims that fall into large groups with compelling evidence supporting approval. Based on time alone, those claims are much more likely to fall under the 1994 and 2016 regulations. They are unlikely to fall under the 2019 regulation, which only took effect several months before the Department agreed to halt denials. To say that adjudications have not proceeded under the 2019 regulation reflects that reality rather than a refusal to apply it.

We disagree with the comments arguing that the Department's experience adjudicating claims under the 1995 and 2016 regulation cannot inform its conclusions of the need for changes from the 2019 regulation. Courts have long acknowledged that changed circumstances and experience provide a permissible basis for improving existing regulations, noting “it is not arbitrary and capricious for an agency to change its mind in light of experience”. Likewise, “the mere fact that an agency interpretation contradicts a prior agency position is not fatal.” An agency need only give “good reasons” for a new policy, which the Department has done at length during the rulemaking.

Here, the Department's experience evaluating claims under the 1995 and 2016 regulations provides a valuable reference for how that process would unfold for the 2019 regulation. After all, the 2019 regulation involves applying many of the same fundamental principles that animate its earlier iterations: all three versions of the regulation involve similar determinations about schools' acts or omissions, their impact on borrowers' enrollment and borrowing decisions, and the detriment borrowers may suffer as a result. Thus, the 2019 regulation shares many of the earlier regulations' core features and differs by further requiring a multitude of additional findings and procedural steps that would require considerably more time and resources from the borrowers, institutions, and the Department. It is reasonable for the Department to draw on its expertise in administering title IV and on its experience applying similar concepts under the other existing standards and processes. Indeed, considerable deference is given to an agency's administrability-related conclusions and predictive judgments about matters on which the agency is uniquely knowledgeable, such as a rule's practical impact. The Department's knowledge and experience inform its judgments here on an approach that will facilitate addressing BD claims in the most effective way.

Finally, in the time since the 2019 rule's promulgation, the Department has learned that there are implementation challenges with administering the 2019 regulation and with reviewing claims under the standard and processes it would require. The issue relates to the requirement that the Department share not just the borrower's application for relief but also a copy of all other evidence related to the claim in the Department's possession. The Department is currently unable to comply with those record-sharing requirements, nor have we identified a workable platform to do so. In some cases, the evidence relevant to one applicant's claim may flow from information that includes other borrowers' personally identifiable information, which cannot be shared with the applicant without violating those other borrowers' privacy rights. In other situations, the Department has received large amounts of evidence related to the claim (some of which might not be relevant to the final determination). The Department does not have a mechanism for transmitting such large amounts of information and it would likely overwhelm the borrower as well as many institutions. The Department has also found that it does not have the capacity to provide the necessary evidentiary redactions on a borrower-by-borrower basis as anticipated by the 2019 regulation. These experiences thus inform our decision to improve upon the 2019 regulation's approach in this rule.

The Department thus fully considered the likely effect of the 2019 regulations on the adjudication of claims and is making appropriate changes to counter those effects.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters argued that the proposed BD regulations lack equitable standards and due process protections and will facilitate erroneous discharges that harm students, taxpayers, institutions, and borrowers. These commenters warned of tuition increases and increased costs to the taxpayers as a result of the implementation of this BD framework.

Discussion: We disagree with these commenters. The Department carefully crafted a BD framework that will ensure that borrowers have the opportunity to provide the details sufficient to justify the BD application without establishing barriers too complicated for borrowers to meet and that will ensure institutions have ample opportunity to respond to a BD claim as described in detail in § 685.405. Collectively, these regulations provide an equitable standard for all parties. The Department reminds the commenters that institutions will have an opportunity to submit a response to claims before they are adjudicated or before the final Secretarial action occurs, and will not be held liable for approved borrower defense claims until after a separate process that gives institutions the opportunity to present their evidence and arguments before an independent hearing official in an administrative proceeding. As the Department explained in the NPRM, we will initiate such liability proceedings through the appeal procedures for audit and program review determinations in 34 CFR part 668, subpart H. This provides robust due process protections to institutions during the recoupment proceedings. The institutions will be presented with the findings and evidence against them. They will have an opportunity to challenge that evidence by filing an appeal with the Office of Hearings and Appeals where they can challenge the evidence and findings and present relevant evidence to bear that they identify. The hearing officer's decision can be appealed to the Secretary, who would not have been involved in the decision to pursue the liability or the decision by the hearing officer. These are the same protections institutions receive in other similar proceedings. Thus, while we pursue liabilities from the responsible institutions to avoid burdening taxpayers with the cost of these discharges, we will also provide a full opportunity to institutions to respond.

We acknowledge that regulations have added costs, and we explain how those costs may be offset in the Regulatory Impact Analysis section of this document.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters asserted that schools may have liberty and property interests in continued eligibility for benefits (program participation) under the HEA that are subject to due process protections. The commenters asserted that institutions have a right to retain the title IV benefits they previously received, and that the proposed regulations allegedly deprive them of these interests without adequate due process. Specifically, the commenters assert that the group approval loan discharges and the process of evaluating and approving group discharges does not provide institutions with sufficient notice and opportunity to respond.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters' assessment of both the interests at stake and the process provided under the regulations. As an initial matter, the commenters appear to suggest that the BD regulations implicate a property or liberty interest in continued participation in the title IV programs. They do not. Rights acquired by the institution under agreements already executed with students remain fully enforceable on their own terms. The BD regulations only address loan discharge for borrowers and potential recoupment of discharged amounts from the institutions that engaged in the acts or omissions that prompted the discharge. These borrower defense regulations do not directly impact an institution's continued eligibility, but findings of substantial misrepresentation or other serious violations that resulted in approved BD claims could impact an institution's title IV eligibility. In other words, the Department's approval of BD claims for borrowers has no direct impact on the institution's title IV eligibility. However, the improper actions by the institution that provide the basis for approving a BD claim also will likely violate the statutory and regulatory requirements of the title IV programs. The Department could determine that the institution's violation of those rules could affect title IV eligibility if the claims were approved due to a finding of a violation of the HEA that merits additional adverse actions. Even if the regulations did implicate continued eligibility, however, the institution has no property right to continue to participate in the title IV programs on the terms under which the institution previously participated. Section 452(b) of the HEA states, “No institution of higher education shall have a right to participate in the [Direct Loan] programs authorized under this part [part D of title IV of the HEA].”

Because the commenters misconstrue the scope and impact of the regulations, they also misapply the due process analysis. The regulations provide ample due process at all stages and with respect to all interested parties. Fundamentally, the commenters failed to distinguish between the BD loan discharge process and the BD recoupment process. As clearly stated in the regulations and discussed throughout this document, the loan discharge process is between the borrower and the Secretary. The regulations include extensive processes tailored to that relationship, which includes the opportunity for institutional response. In response to public comment, the Department enhanced the proposed procedures to provide more notice to affected parties, to require BD discharge applications to be submitted under penalty of perjury, and to add an additional opportunity for institutional response prior to the decision on whether to form a group for adjudication.

The loan discharge process is separate from any recoupment proceeding that the Secretary elects to pursue against an institution. The recoupment efforts contemplated are recoveries of financial liabilities, not sanctions. The recoupment process involves a number of procedural steps, including many of the protections the commenters claimed were missing from the regulations, such as motions practice, interlocutory challenges, and multiple levels of appeals. See34 CFR part 668, subpart H. The Department's hearing procedures provide ample due process, which is confirmed by the conclusions in caselaw cited by commenters. As clearly stated in the regulations, moreover, any recoupment proceeding under these regulations will only be undertaken prospectively, with respect to loans disbursed after July 1, 2023. The Department's final regulations in § 685.409 were revised to make that even clearer than before. If recoupment is occurring on claims associated with loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2023, that is because the actions or omissions that led to that approval would also have violated the borrower defense regulations in effect when those loans were first disbursed.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that erroneous BD discharges could prompt mandatory financial responsibility triggers, which we discussed during a spring 2022 negotiated rulemaking session involving separate student loan issues, that could cause the Department to determine inappropriately that an institution is not financially responsible.

Discussion: We disagree with these commenters. Erroneous discharges are unlikely to occur given the adjudicative framework we crafted, which gives the institution and the requestor an opportunity to present evidence and provides that, to approve a discharge, the Department must conclude that the institution's act or omission caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. The bifurcated process, separating claim adjudication from recovery of the amounts discharged, further minimizes the risk of any hypothetical collateral effect on institutions.

As of the publication of these final regulations, the financial responsibility regulations referred to by the commenters are proposals, not binding regulations. Current regulations at § 668.171(c)(1)(i)(A) require the Department to establish liability against an institution under an administrative proceeding in which the institution has an opportunity to present its position before a hearing official. That structure addresses the concerns raised by the commenters. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments on any future regulations related to financial responsibility triggers when they are published in an NPRM.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters stated that HEA Sec. 455(h) does not grant power of adjudication to circumscribe presumptions or assign liability to institutions. Several commenters argue that the proposed BD improvements exceed the Department's authority based on principles articulated in the Supreme Court's recent decision in West Virginia v. EPA.

Discussion: The rule falls comfortably within Congress's statutory directive that the Secretary specify in regulations the acts or omissions by schools that provide borrowers a defense to repayment. One commenter argued the rule falls outside the statute's grant of authority because it will account for “highly-complex” and “fact-specific borrower claims.” But those complexities and the need for fact-specific review stem from the increased number of claims that rest on acts or omissions found by court judgments or regulatory investigations, which invoke the defense to repayment specifically referenced in the HEA. Indeed, another commenter argues that such increased volume suggests the Department lacks authority to improve the existing rule, but the volume of applications and the acts or omissions that motivated them are precisely why the rule needs improvement. That is, foregoing the improvements included in these rules would do nothing to change the number of borrowers invoking the statutory remedy.

With respect to the comment that the HEA does not grant power of adjudication to circumscribe presumptions, we again refer commenters to the general provisions granting authority to the Secretary in GEPA, authority extended in the Department's organization act, and numerous provisions in the HEA. Along with a statutory directive to define which acts and omissions provide a defense to repayment, those statutory provisions grant the Department authority to promulgate regulations giving content to the statutory BD provision, including an adjudication framework like the one this rule prescribes. We discuss the issues pertaining to liabilities more fully and elsewhere in this document.

The Department disagrees that the Supreme Court's West Virginia decision undermines the Department's authority to promulgate the proposed rule's BD improvements. That decision described “extraordinary cases” in which an agency asserts authority of an “unprecedented nature” to take “remarkable measures” for which it “had never relied on its authority to take,” with only a “vague” statutory basis that goes “beyond what Congress could reasonably be understood to have granted.” The rule here does not resemble the rare circumstances in West Virginia. First, there is nothing unprecedented or novel about the Department relying on the “Borrower defenses” subsection of 20 U.S.C. 1087e to authorize a BD regulation with standards and procedures to effectuate that subsection. That section, in fact, requires the Secretary to issue regulations specifying the actions or omissions a borrower may assert as a defense to repayment. Indeed, the Code of Federal Regulations has included multiple versions of regulations governing BD claims since 1995.

Thus, contrary to the commenters' arguments, the rule does not reflect “unheralded” action only loosely tethered to a congressional grant of authority. To the contrary, the rule gives context to the defenses that Congress instructed the Department to define, and does so in a way that accounts for all involved parties' rights.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters stated that the BD regulations violate the separation of powers doctrine. These commenters state that the rule impermissibly assigns the Department an adjudicatory role for claims and defenses that are constitutionally required to be decided by courts.

Discussion: We disagree that these regulations violate the separation of powers doctrine. Administrative agencies commonly combine both investigatory and adjudicative functions, see Winthrow v. Larkin, and due process does not require a strict separation of those functions as long as adequate process is provided. The Department is no different and performs both investigative and adjudicative functions in other contexts, including those that involve borrower debts and institutional liabilities.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters argued that there is no legal ground in the HEA for affirmative BD claims, which in the 2019 regulation was defined as claims from borrowers who were in repayment as opposed to defensive claims, which are for borrowers in default.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters. Section 455(h) of the HEA requires the Secretary to “specify in regulations which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a defense to repayment of a loan made under this part.” This language in no way limits the remedy to a defense asserted in collection proceedings. Rather, the concept of “repayment” is widely understood to encompass not just borrowers in default but also those actively repaying their loans. As we note elsewhere, BD relief, though unique, bears features of remedies like rescission, avoidance, restitution, and certain forms of out-of-pocket or reliance costs. Those remedies are appropriate as a defense to the obligation to repay, not simply as backstops for contingencies like default. In that context, we do not see these comments' distinction between “affirmative” and “defensive” claims to be a meaningful one considering a defense to repayment is only relevant in the context of an existing obligation to repay.

Moreover, limiting BD only to loans in default would be illogical. Only allowing claims from loans in default would place borrowers in an unfair situation of either intentionally defaulting in the hopes that a BD claim is successful or repaying a loan that potentially should be discharged due to the acts or omissions of an institution. Given that institutions must keep their default rates below certain thresholds established in statute and regulations, creating an incentive for default could end up inadvertently hurting an institution that has large numbers of BD claims.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters raised concerns about how the inclusion of new items in part 668, subpart F as well as the new part 668, subpart R would be used for other Department oversight or enforcement activity. They raised concerns about institutions potentially facing adverse actions for past conduct now covered by these additions.

Discussion: The Department notes that some of the changes to Part 668, subpart F represent items that are not new but have simply been moved to other locations or slightly restated. Other elements in that subpart, as well as part 668, subpart R are new. For the items that are new, the Department could bring adverse actions in relation to conduct that occurs on or after July 1, 2023.

Changes: None.

Effective Date of Regulations, Claims Covered Under Regulations

Comments: The Department received several comments related to the treatment of borrowers who have already paid off their loans. A few commenters requested clarification as to whether these individuals are eligible for BD. Others argued that a borrower who has paid off their loan should be prohibited from filing a BD claim because there would be no repayment to defend.

Discussion: A borrower who submits a BD claim is asserting that they should no longer be required to repay the loan they owe to the Department. BD claims are thus limited to loans that are still outstanding and are associated with the institution whose alleged act or omission could give rise to the defense to repayment. This concept is embedded in the definition of “borrower defense to repayment,” which makes the defense available for “all amounts owed to the Secretary on a Direct Loan.” § 685.401(a). The next paragraph of the definition provides for reimbursement of all payments “previously made to the Secretary on the Direct Loan,” which is a direct reference back to the loan identified in the first paragraph (on which amounts must still be outstanding). Thus, if a borrower no longer has a loan outstanding, they do not have a defense to repayment as there would no longer be any loans to repay.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters recommended that the regulatory text expressly state that new BD standards will not retroactively apply to institutions for alleged misconduct that occurred prior to the effective date of these regulations. They also noted that, while the preamble to the NPRM stated that retroactive application would not occur, such statements were not reflected in the accompanying regulatory text.

Discussion: BD is fundamentally a process between the borrower and the Department. It is a claim brought by the borrower that they should no longer have to repay an outstanding debt owed to the Secretary. The reason for such a claim is due to an alleged act or omission by the institution. The Department must review that allegation to determine whether the borrower should be relieved of their obligation to repay. Whether the Department chooses to seek recoupment from the institution for the cost of approved discharges is a separate question and subject to a separate set of procedures. This is in keeping with how the Department handles discharges for closed school and false certification discharges as well.

In this regulation, the Department simplifies the standard that governs whether the borrower should be relieved of their loan repayment obligation. The Department's approach ensures that a single standard is used to evaluate BD claims arising from the same acts or omissions, regardless of whether the borrower has multiple loans that were obligated in multiple years or whether a borrower's loans were consolidated. This approach ensures more consistent decision-making and treatment of borrowers.

The Department is not applying this approach to recoupment. Institutions will only be subject to recoupment actions for claims that would be approved under the standard in place at the time the act or omission occurred. In other words, a claim that is approved due to a misrepresentation, omission, breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, judgment, or final Secretarial action that occurred prior to July 1, 2023, would only result in recoupment if the claim would have been approved under the 1994, 2016, or 2019 regulations, whichever is applicable. We appreciate the feedback from commenters who noted that this concept was not sufficiently expressed in the NPRM and have updated the final amendatory text to make this point clearer.

Changes: While claims that are pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023 will be adjudicated under this standard, we have added language in § 685.409(b) noting that the Secretary will not collect any liability to the Secretary from the school for any amounts discharged or reimbursed to borrowers for an approved claim under § 685.406 for loans first disbursed prior to July 1, 2023, unless the claim would have been approved under the standards for what constitutes an approved claim under the three different borrower defense regulations. The standards are contained within § 685.206(c), the 1994 regulation, for loans first disbursed before July 1, 2017; under § 685.206(d), the 2016 regulation, for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2017, and before July 1, 2020; or under § 685.206(e), the 2019 regulation, for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2023.

Comments: Many commenters wrote in saying that the proposed regulations are impermissibly retroactive. They cited a body of case law supporting a presumption against retroactive regulations.

Discussion: Courts have regularly rejected retroactivity challenges to regulations that operate like these. As with statutes, newly promulgated regulatory measures are not improperly retroactive, “so long as the Department's regulations do not alter the past legal consequences of past actions.” That is, a regulation raises concerns of unconstitutional retroactivity if it would impair rights a party possessed when he acted, increase a party's liability for past conduct, or impose new duties with respect to transactions already completed.” Thus, whether a regulation “operates retroactively” turns on “whether the new provision attaches new legal consequences to events completed before its enactment.” It is, however, well settled that “[a] statute is not rendered retroactive merely because the facts or requisites upon which its subsequent action depends, or some of them, are drawn from a time antecedent to the enactment.” Nor is a statute impermissibly retroactive simply because it “upsets expectations based in prior law.” Under these regulations, while all claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023 will be reviewed under the standards in this final rule, an institution will not be liable for the amount of the BD claim paid by the Department unless the claim would have been approved under the standards in the regulations in place at the time the claim arose. Thus, these regulations are not retroactive for institutions.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters recommended the Department continue to process pending BD claims, regardless of any new regulation, and urged the Department to process claims under the 2019 regulations. The commenters further suggested the Department should revisit claims approved for partial discharges to reconsider the amount of discharge that is appropriate; assess whether all available evidence was considered with respect to claims that have been denied; investigate and process claims from institutions for which no student has yet received relief; and establish processes to more quickly adjudicate new claims as they come in while regulations are ongoing.

Discussion: The Department continues to process BD claims as well as abiding by commitments the agency has made in ongoing litigation. As we specified in the NPRM, we proposed new regulations to establish a new Federal standard for BD claims applicable to applications received on or after July 1, 2023, and to those pending before the Secretary on July 1, 2023. To date, all approved claims have been for full discharges, so the need to contemplate past instances of partial discharge is not needed. As noted, this new standard will apply to all claims that are pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023.

Changes: None.

Eligible Loan Types

Comments: A few commenters commended the Department for providing FFEL borrowers with access to the BD claim process through loan consolidation, including by giving borrowers the option on their application to request consolidation of their loans into a Direct Loan if their claim is approved. A few commenters, however, were concerned that by limiting the definition of BD to the making of a Direct Loan, the provision could be read to exclude claims that pertain to the making of a FFEL loan, even if such FFEL loan is later consolidated into a Direct Loan. These commenters suggested some regulatory changes to ensure FFEL borrowers have access to relief.

Commenters also raised concerns that some FFEL borrowers are ineligible to consolidate into Direct Loans, thus making it impossible for them to receive a BD discharge if their claim was approved. As examples of FFEL borrowers who cannot consolidate into Direct Loans, these commenters pointed to borrowers who are current on a FFEL Consolidation Loan and do not have any additional loans to consolidate, as well as FFEL borrowers who are subject to enforced collection orders, such as wage garnishment, or who have a judgment on their FFEL loans. These commenters suggested that the Department promulgate final regulations that make borrower defense discharges available to borrowers with FFEL Loans, including FFEL Consolidation loans, even if they cannot or do not consolidate.

Commenters also expressed concerns that a FFEL borrower whose defense to repayment claim is only partially approved may be left worse off if the resulting Direct Consolidation Loan is not fully discharged and urged the Department to ensure that a Direct Consolidation loan would not be automatically effectuated if doing so would adversely affect the borrower. These commenters noted that consolidation is one of the few avenues that borrowers can use to get their loans out of default but borrowers whose loans are already consolidated generally lose the option to consolidate. Commenters stressed that these borrowers should not lose the option to get out of default, arguing that many borrowers with approved borrower defense claims are also likely to be at high risk of delinquency or default.

Commenters requested that the Department clarify whether it will refund amounts paid on FFEL loans before they were consolidated.

Other commenters did not support the inclusion of FFEL borrowers. They argued that a BD claim is based on the acts or omissions of an institution at the time the loan was issued, which for any FFEL loan would precede the issuance of any Direct Loan through consolidation. That is, because Sec. 455 of the HEA only applies to Direct Loans, the commenters argued that conduct that occurred while the loan was in the FFEL Program should not qualify for a BD discharge. These commenters argued that FFEL loans should be ineligible for a BD discharge.

Discussion: The Department affirms its position that FFEL borrowers should retain a pathway to BD discharges. The HEA directs that, generally, Direct Loans are made under the same “terms, conditions, and benefits” as FFEL Loans. In 1994 and 1995, the Department interpreted that Direct Loan authority as giving the Department authority to hold schools liable for BD claims under both the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, and stated that, for this reason, it was not pursuing more explicit regulatory authority to govern the BD process.

We also want to assure commenters who were concerned that the regulatory language might not provide adequate protection for FFEL borrowers who consolidated into a Direct Loan. Through a Direct Consolidation Loan, FFEL borrowers will have a pathway to BD. Specifically, § 685.401(a) states that relief for actionable conduct includes a “defense to repayment of all amounts owed to the Secretary on a Direct Loan including a Direct Consolidation Loan that was used to repay a Direct Loan, [and] a FFEL Program Loan[.]” Additionally, § 685.401(b) makes clear that a BD claim is available to a “borrower with a balance due on a covered loan[,]” which includes “a Direct Loan or other Federal student loan that is or could be consolidated into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.” § 685.401(a). With these references, we believe that viewing the BD framework in the totality should allay any concerns about a FFEL borrower receiving a pathway to BD.

Operationally, the Department will streamline the claims process for FFEL borrowers by having the BD claim application also function as a Direct Consolidation Loan application, which would only be executed if the claim is approved. In 2009, the Department issued Dear Colleague letter FP-09-03 in which we told FFEL lenders that they cannot decline to complete a Loan Verification Certificate solely because the borrower is attempting to consolidate only a FFEL Consolidation Loan without any additional loans. The question of whether to complete the consolidation thus rests with the Department. Improvements to the loan consolidation process will be reflected when the Department redesigns the BD form, which will separately go through public comment. The Department will also provide other sub-regulatory guidance on how it will treat borrowers with covered loans that are not Direct Loans. Moreover, the Department notes that since approved claims will receive a full discharge the question of whether a consolidation is in the borrower's best interest will be simpler to assess.

The Department appreciates the commenters' concern for borrowers with an involuntary collection order such as wage garnishment or a judgment through a court order but notes the statutory constraints and the Department's limitations. As provided in Sec. 428C(a)(3)(A)(i) of the HEA, borrowers will need to take preliminary steps, such as having those wage garnishment orders lifted or those judgements vacated, in order to facilitate consolidation. Finally, with respect to refunds, the Department will refund amounts previously paid to the Department. We cannot refund amounts the Department did not receive.

Changes: None.

Definitions

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters provided several different suggestions on the proposed “Department official” definition. A few commenters suggested that the Department should preclude staff from Federal Student Aid (FSA) from serving as a Department official. These commenters stated that FSA is responsible for oversight and monitoring and that if the Department had exercised appropriate oversight, we would not have issued the loans related to a BD claim in the first place. The commenters argued that allowing FSA to determine the outcome of BD claims raises the appearance of a conflict of interest. Other commenters argued for a similar change, asserting that the Department official lacks neutrality, because they review and make a recommendation on the merits of a claim. These commenters stated that a borrower defense claim should be adjudicated by an administrative law judge (ALJ), arbitrator, or some other neutral party. On the other hand, a few commenters argued that even an ALJ could not be a neutral party, because they are still a Department employee.

Other commenters argued that the Department official should be an “officer” rather than a career employee, suggesting further that ideally this individual would be a principal officer who is named by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Commenters argued for this change because the decision of whether to approve or deny a BD claim is a final agency decision made on behalf of the Federal government and such decisions cannot be made by career staff.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters and see no need for such limitations on which employees could serve as a Department official. We have, however, clarified the roles fulfilled by the Department official versus those of the Secretary to make clear that the Secretary is the final decision maker.

The role of the Department official is to review the BD claim, consider the evidence, and recommend approval or denial of the claim. The Department official also recommends whether a group should be formed where applicable. The Secretary or the Secretary's delegate may accept or reject the recommendations and is the final decision maker. The Department has clarified this through changes to § 685.406.

We do not agree with the commenters who believe that the Department official cannot be part of FSA, or must be a third-party, such as an ALJ. These FSA staff members handle BD processes, which is separate from the institutional compliance work performed by FSA program reviewers and enforcement staff.

After the collapse of Corinthian in 2016, the then-Under Secretary of Education appointed a BD Special Master to advise the Department on BD issues. The Special Master agreed with Department leadership that the best way to create a fair, transparent, and efficient process for handling BD claims was to establish an infrastructure that was flexible and scalable. By dedicating a team with the human capital and resources to handle BD claims, as we have in FSA's BD Group, led by a director, the Department believes that it has created a nimble framework that accommodates an efficient and fair resolution of BD matters. We plan to continue with this framework.

The Department further believes that requiring the Department official to be a certain type of individual—such as a special master or ALJ—would impermissibly tie the agency's hands with respect to future Congressional appropriations. Requiring that claims only be considered by a certain type of employee would constrain the Department in how to best use Congressional appropriations for salaries and expenses and would limit the Secretary's flexibility to address changing circumstances and appropriations. The definition of Department official in these regulations provides necessary flexibility to allocate staff to review and make recommendations on BD claims.

Furthermore, under Sec. 412 of the Department of Education Organization Act, the Secretary may delegate the authority to perform the functions and duties of the position. A BD claim represents a defense to repaying all amounts owed to the Secretary, and the initial adjudication and resolution of those claims is a function that the Secretary may delegate to an inferior officer or other Department official.

Changes: We revised the regulatory text in § 685.406 to clarify the role of the Department official, who makes a recommendation to the Secretary and that the Secretary, or his delegate will make final decisions.

Comments: Commenters suggested that the Department replace “Direct Loan” in § 685.401 with “Direct Loan or other Federal student loan that is consolidated into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan,” as the Department states in § 685.401(b)(2) through (5), to ensure FFEL borrowers have access to relief. These commenters feared that without an explicit reference to “other Federal student loan that is consolidated into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan,” FFEL borrowers would be unable to access the BD discharge.

Discussion: We assure these commenters that the regulations will give FFEL borrowers access to a BD discharge. Although we did not adopt the specific language the commenters suggested, we created a new definition of a “covered loan” in § 685.401(a). This change does not substantively change the types of loans eligible for relief, because we cannot change the statutory definition of “Direct Loan” (see Part D of title IV of the HEA). These regulations make clear, however, that FFEL borrowers may access the BD process through a Direct Consolidation Loan. A covered loan remains a Direct Loan or other Federal student loan that is or could be consolidated into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

Changes: We added a new definition of “covered loan” in § 685.401(a), which includes a Direct Loan or other Federal student loan that is or could be consolidated into a Federal Direct Consolidation loan.

Comments: Many commenters expressed disappointment that the Department excluded legal assistance organizations from the parties eligible to request consideration of group claims, as we allow for State requestors in these BD regulations. These commenters stated that excluding legal assistance organizations will disadvantage borrowers who attend smaller institutions that are less likely to attract the attention of State officials. Similarly, these commenters were concerned about borrowers in States that do not have the capacity to investigate predatory institutions and pursue group discharges or have decided not to do so for lack of resources or policy reasons. The commenters stated that legal assistance organizations are well-versed in the application of States' laws and the nuances of States' higher education regulatory systems, which would make them well-positioned to request consideration of group discharges under State law. Additionally, the commenters asserted that these organizations may possess greater awareness of institutions using predatory conduct against low-income students than government agencies. Other commenters agreed with the NPRM's limitation of the entities eligible to bring forth group claims.

A few commenters suggested the Department permit representatives of certified classes of borrowers to submit group BD applications. These commenters further stated the Department repeatedly acknowledges the value of lawsuits, particularly class action lawsuits, to promote the purposes of the Direct Loan program. They noted that permitting only State requestors to submit group applications will likely result in differential treatment of student borrowers based solely on where they live. In addition, the commenters stated that counsel representing classes of harmed borrowers can assemble a wealth of relevant evidence.

Discussion: During negotiated rulemaking session 3, the Department initially considered allowing legal assistance organizations to submit group requests. Upon further consideration, however, the Department concluded that limiting the group formation request to State requestors would facilitate a more efficient process. The Department has consistently and repeatedly received valuable information from States that played a key role in the adjudication of BD applications. For example, we received evidence from State attorneys general that we used to approve claims related to several institutions across the country. The Department received evidence from the California Attorney General that helped document that Corinthian Colleges misrepresented its job placement rates. Evidence from the New Mexico Attorney General helped establish that ITT Technical Institute misled students about obtaining accreditation for its associate degree in nursing programs. More than two dozen State attorneys general submitted evidence related to ITT giving students false, erroneous, or misleading statements about the value of its education. The Department received evidence from the Illinois and Colorado attorneys general that demonstrated Westwood College lied to students about the ability for criminal justice students to get a job as a police or corrections officer in Illinois and that it made false promises at all of its campuses about guaranteed prospects for students who could not find a job. The Department likely would have been unable to approve many of the claims associated with those schools without that evidence.

After careful reconsideration, we are persuaded by the commenters' arguments that allowing legal assistance organizations to request a group formation could give borrowers who would otherwise not have a pathway to relief the ability to file a BD claim. Allowing these additional organizations to request the consideration of group claims affords another channel for the Department to receive valuable information that we can use to assess BD claims. The commenters' point that legal assistance organizations may have potentially greater awareness regarding some institutional conduct than States is important, given that we have received claims pertaining to thousands of institutions.

The Department also initially cited concerns about the potential added burden of allowing legal assistance organizations to make group requests. The overall requirements for a group request will mitigate this concern, particularly the requirement that a group request must include evidence beyond sworn borrower statements to be considered for a decision. Though not an exhaustive list, in the past the Department has found that additional evidence such as an institution's internal training materials and communications, the documentation used to calculate job placement rates, and copies of misleading advertisements have all been helpful in adjudicating BD claims. Group requests without additional evidence and information will be deemed incomplete. That means a group request will require additional evidence from the third-party requestor.

To make this change operationally manageable, the Department is adding a new definition of a “third-party requestor,” which will encompass State requestors and “legal assistance organizations” (also newly defined in the regulations) and will allow such third-party requestor the ability to request group formation, subject to certain conditions. The definition of “legal assistance organization” in the regulations is drawn, in part, from Sec. 428L(b)(1) of the HEA which defines a civil legal assistance attorney with the exception of where their employer receives their funding as outlined in Sec. 428L(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the HEA. Beyond being a nonprofit organization, we do not believe a legal assistance organization's funding source should have any bearing on their request to form a group under § 685.402. We believe relying on a modified definition created by Congress is better than trying to craft a new one.

The regulations also add a requirement that third-party requestors that are legal assistance organizations may only request to form a group in which all borrowers have entered into a representation agreement with the legal assistance organization. In this respect, legal assistance organizations significantly differ from State requestors. This legal distinction is required for several reasons. First, confidential borrower-related information must be exchanged as part of BD determinations. The Department is permitted to exchange that information with the offices of State attorneys general but must obtain borrower-specific privacy waivers to share such information with private counsel. It is far more likely that the Department will be able to exchange such borrower-related information for borrowers that legal assistance organizations represent. Second, State attorneys general may act as their constituents' public legal representative based on the nature of their role. Non-governmental groups, on the other hand, generally have no comparable right to assert claims on behalf of non-clients. Class counsel who represent plaintiffs in a civil class action lawsuit are one exception to this general bar, but only following specific determinations about class counsel and the class representatives, their clients. The Department lacks the resources or procedures to recreate a similar process for group BD requests from legal assistance organizations that the Department is able to do so for State attorneys general. For these and other practical reasons, requests submitted by a legal assistance organization to form a group must contain a certification that the requestor has legal representation authority for each borrower identified as a member of the group, which must be based on individual representation agreements or on a court appointing the legal assistance organization to represent a certified class that includes all members of a requested group in connection with claims substantially similar to BD. As we explain later in the Group Process and Group Timelines section, the Department will retain the flexibility to approve a group that is broader or narrower than the one requested by a third party based upon a review of the evidence.

The Department declines to allow representatives of certified classes of borrowers to submit requests to form a group seeking BD if they do not fall under the definition of a legal assistance organization. While we appreciate these external entities' interest, the Department believes that expanding the scope of third-party requestors presents administrative issues that are not feasible for the Department to address at this time. We also note that the ability to use judgments to support BD claims means that representatives of certified classes can obtain relief for their clients if they secure a judgment that meets the requirements under § 685.401(b)(5). And, of course, nothing prevents these entities from independently sharing general information with the Department.

Changes: We added definitions of “legal assistance organization” and “third-party requestor” in § 685.401(a). Throughout the document, we also revised any reference to “State requestor” to be “third-party requestor” to reflect inclusion of legal assistance organizations. We also amended § 685.402(c) to state that third-party requestors that are legal assistance organizations may not request to form a group that includes any borrower who has not entered into a representation agreement with the legal assistance organization. We also added a corresponding new paragraph § 685.402(c) that requires a legal assistance organization submitting a group claim to certify that it has entered into a legal representation authority with each borrower identified as a member of the group.

Comments: Many commenters supported allowing States to request a consideration of a group claim. Those commenters noted the importance of State attorneys general in identifying important evidence and the overall importance of having group claims. We also received many comments that opposed this provision. Commenters argued that the Department did not sufficiently justify why it was including State requestors and that it lacked the legal authority to include them. Commenters also argued that the Department was adopting this position to circumvent limitations on its own investigatory power and that it can already share information and does not need this provision. Commenters also alleged that this provision would involve the Department in internal matters between attorneys general and State authorizing agencies that may not want to take action. Commenters also raised concerns that State requests could be used to try and influence ongoing settlement negotiations. Commenters also asked if State requestors would have to limit their requests to only cover borrowers in their states. Finally, a few commenters argued that the Department would struggle to sift through the material from states.

Discussion: We appreciate the support from commenters who are in favor of including State requestors.

We disagree with commenters opposed to the inclusion of State requestors. As discussed in the NPRM as well as in this final rule, the Department has benefited repeatedly from information provided by State attorneys general in its adjudication of claims. The Department has also received many requests for consideration of group claims from attorneys general. Creating a formal process for the handling of these group requests is better for States, the Department, affected borrowers, and institutions. For States, the regulations provide more clarity around what is needed in an application and lays out timelines for when to expect decisions. Borrowers who may not understand how to file a BD claim or who may not have the information necessary to support all elements of a claim on their own will benefit from the expertise and support of state officials who regularly act on behalf of consumers in their states in many contexts. For institutions, they will also have a clearer role in responding to both the request to form the group, as well as whether the group should be approved. These regulations also give the Department a clear process to follow for the handling of group claims and will ensure consistent treatment and consideration of claims. We also note that third-party requestors are only involved in the submission of claims by borrowers; they are not involved in any proceeding brought by the Department against the institution.

We disagree with the concerns raised that allowing any third-party requestor—whether from a State or legal assistance organization—would result in attempts to influence the Department or influence litigation or oversight matters within a state. The Department's concern is ensuring it receives evidence that can help it make fair decisions about the merits of BD claims. The Department does not have a role in the resolution of matters at the State level between an attorney general and an institution or other State entities.

With regard to which borrowers a State may request a group around, the Department does not believe it needs to add any language specifying the extent of a group. We note that to date all requests for group consideration from State attorneys general have only covered borrowers within their states.

Finally, the Department believes it will have the capacity to review material from States. It has already done so for several group requests and the requirements for what is needed in a group application will help ensure the Department will receive additional useful evidence when reviewing requests for group claims.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter requested that the Department add State authorizing agencies to the list of State requestors under § 685.401, noting that in at least one State the authorizing agency has responsibility for reviewing title IV aid issues and eligibility requirements that incorporate title IV aid elements.

Discussion: The Department agrees with the commenter. In adopting a definition of State requestor, the Department sought to include entities that have authority from the State to oversee institutions of higher education, including reviewing and approving institutional conduct. We modified the language of State requestor to include State entities that are responsible for approving educational institutions in the State.

Changes: We have added a State entity responsible for approving educational institutions in the State to the definition of a “State requestor” in § 685.401.

Comments: A few commenters believed the definition of “school” and “institution” in § 685.401(a) was duplicative and too broad. Commenters stated that inclusion of the cross-reference to § 668.174(b) in this definition can be read to mean that, for the purposes of adjudicating a BD claim, the conduct of an institution could be imputed to any other institutions that are under common ownership.

Discussion: We concur with the commenters. The Department contemplated covering in the definition of “school” or “institution” a person affiliated with the institution as described in § 668.174(b). This was done for purposes of recovery from the institution in § 685.409. The Department already retains the authority to assess a past performance liability for individuals associated with the institution under the financial responsibility regulations, however. Therefore, a cross-reference to § 668.174(b) in the definition of school or institution is unnecessary.

Changes: We revised the definition of “school” or “institution” (which are used interchangeably) by removing the sentence “ School or institution also includes persons affiliated with the institution as described in § 668.174(b) of this section.”

Federal Standard

Comments: Many commenters supported the establishment of a strong Federal BD standard that better captures the full scope of institutional misconduct relevant for a BD claim. These commenters noted that, to date, the BD claims review process has been burdensome, with different regulatory standards depending on loan disbursement date. Commenters said the different Federal standards and processes contributed to inequities among similarly situated borrowers, resulted in a backlog, and delayed adjudication while borrowers were left in the dark. The commenters praised the new Federal standard, noting it established clearer and expanded grounds for BD claims and was a tremendous step in protecting consumers and ensuring the integrity of the Federal financial aid programs.

Discussion: We thank the commenters for their support.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters indicated that the Department should be required to find some or all of the following elements to approve a claim: reliance by the borrower, detriment to the borrower, materiality, adverse effect, financial damages or harm to the borrower, and intentionality by the institution. They raised these comments with respect to each component of the BD standards: substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, judgments, and final Secretarial actions.

Commenters argued that the absence of some or all of these elements would result in the approval of claims that they described as having minimal allegations or documentary evidence or that did not result in any harm and thus should be denied. Commenters also said the proposed Federal standard would encourage the filing of what commenters described as frivolous claims. These commenters indicated that under the proposed rules the Department could approve claims as a result of errors by the institution in good faith, as a result of acts or omission in which the borrower did not in fact suffer any injury, or with virtually no factual allegations or documentary support. Commenters said the NPRM's approach is impermissibly broad and noted that the absence of some elements such as reliance appears to be inconsistent with the definition of a substantial misrepresentation in § 668.71. Commenters also noted that without the inclusion of some or all of these elements, it is unclear how institutions could successfully challenge liability during the institutional response stage, contributing to concerns about the due process rights of institutions. Similarly, many commenters raised concerns that an institution could be held accountable for inadvertent mistakes unless intent is required for a BD claim.

Discussion: We agree with the commenters in part. Upon consideration of each of the items suggested by commenters, we modified the proposed Federal standard to provide that, to approve a claim, the Department must find that the institution committed “an actionable act or omission and, as a result, the borrower suffered detriment of a nature and degree warranting the relief provided by a borrower defense to repayment as defined in this section.” § 685.401(b). The final clause (“warranting the relief provided by a borrower defense to repayment as defined in this section”) refers to the steps set forth in § 685.401(a)'s definition that comprise the remedy that BD provides, which are (i) relief from future repayment obligations of covered loans, (ii) reimbursement of all amounts paid to the Secretary, and, where applicable, curing consequences related to (iii) default or eligibility and (iv) adverse credit reporting. This general standard supplies a claim's primary elements of actionable conduct, injury, causation, and conditions justifying the remedy.

The Federal standard goes on to enumerate the different categories of conduct that, if shown, may serve as a sufficient basis for satisfying the general definition's first prong (“actionable act or omission”). That is, the following subsections enumerate the “acts or omissions” that fall within the scope of what is ”actionable” for purposes of BD, which are: substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, judgments, and final Secretarial actions. By structuring the standard with general elements proceeding from the BD definition, claims must satisfy each of those general elements to be approved under any of the different conduct-related grounds for BD.

This simplified approach sets forth the shared elements of a claim: actionable acts or omissions by the institution; detriment to the borrower from having taken out a loan and enrolled; a causal link between the school's conduct and the borrower's injury; and that the appropriate remedy for such conduct and resulting injury is to discharge the borrower's remaining repayment obligations, refund payments already made to the Secretary, and take curative steps for any prior consequences related to credit reporting or default. The first three elements involve a factual determination about school's conduct and its impact on the borrower. The final prong ties those elements to the unique remedy that a defense to repayment provides. The section below on “ Amounts to be Discharged/Determination of Discharge ” provides a more comprehensive discussion of the remedy that BD provides.

The changes to the definition of a BD make several improvements that clarify the standard and address various commenters' concerns. Principally, a general definition accompanied by enumerated actionable acts or omissions clarifies the shared elements without shoehorning them into each specific way of establishing a defense to repayment. A definition of general elements also considers commenters' requests to require that the act or omission be accompanied by one or more variations of the elements of causation and detriment to the borrower.

For causation, the Department chose a straightforward general element of causation instead of specific articulations such as reliance and materiality. First, a general causation element fulfills the function that reliance and materiality play in many actions for common law fraud, but in a way that more appropriately reflects the unique context of BD and student loans generally. Indeed, the decision to take out Federal loans to pay tuition in exchange for education, training, and credentials differs from the conventional context of common law fraud. The core concern for BD is ensuring it is a remedy for injuries caused by the identified acts and omissions, which is a concern that a general causation standard more appropriately addresses.

General causation can also be expressed in terms that will make more sense to a borrower. As numerous commenters observed, requiring applicants to use specific phrases risks filtering out applicants who do not understand terms with specific legal meanings instead of focusing on the borrower's actual entitlement to relief. The Department was also persuaded by concerns from commenters that reliance is a complicated element to rebut because only the borrower will truly know if they relied upon an act or omission. Causation, meanwhile, requires describing factual circumstances that show a connection between the act and the detriment to the borrower.

Detriment to the borrower is also a general element of a defense to repayment. The Department opted for this element rather than the suggestion of a few commenters to require borrowers to establish harm in specific forms or financial quantities. As noted in the NPRM, the Department is concerned that past requirements to establish harm have set unrealistic bars for borrowers, such as ruling out factors like regional or national recessions and a poor job-search process as causes for a borrower's inability to find employment or denying relief to borrowers who succeed despite their program. Requiring specific forms or values of harm would present an unrealistic barrier for many borrowers likely entitled to relief.

Furthermore, some comments on this topic appear to conflate the fact of detriment with the measure of resulting harm for remedial purposes. The “detriment” element ensures that an applicant or group of applicants did, in fact, suffer harm caused by the relevant act or omission. In the BD context, that will frequently take the form of lost value or economic loss as a result of the transaction to take out a loan and enroll. Limits on the form or degree of that injury are more appropriately treated as remedy-related issues, as explained in the paragraphs that follow and in the “ Amounts to be Discharged/Determination of Discharge” section.

A claim's final general element proceeds from the remedy for BD, and involves a determination that the nature of the relevant acts or omissions and resulting detriment warrant the remedy available in BD. This feature of the updated definition and Federal standard, among others, addresses many of the concerns raised by commenters representing institutions or the interests of institutions. Regarding the concerns these comments raise, an approved claim requires the Department to conclude that the act or omission caused detriment to the borrower such that the circumstances warrant the relief of removing the borrower's obligation to repay the loan's remaining balance, refunding amounts paid to the Secretary, and other benefits like changes to credit reporting and determining that the borrower is not in default. In making that determination, the Secretary will weigh the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers, along with any other relevant facts. As explained below, when making that determination for cases involving closed schools, there will be a rebuttable presumption that relief is warranted, which reflects the Department's experience that the circumstances warranting such relief are likely to exist in cases involving closed schools shown to have committed actionable acts or omissions.

As we explain elsewhere, BD relief, though unique, bears features of remedies like rescission, restitution, avoidance, reliance costs, and an obligor's claims and defenses against the enforcement of an unsecured loan. As rules and principles for those remedies reflect, whether rescissionary relief is appropriate often depends on the facts and circumstances of a particular case. Although we did not adopt precise standards from these related areas of law, the Department expects to draw on principles and reasoning underlying the application of rescissionary remedies that BD resembles, where factual circumstances call for it, and will make explanations of important remedy-related determinations public. The relief available under BD and determinations on whether certain circumstances warrant relief are explained in greater detail in the “ Amounts to be Discharged/Determination of Discharge ” section.

The Department considers this flexible inquiry superior to specific benchmarks of cognizable harm requested by numerous commenters. Principally, it corresponds more closely to the remedy of a discharge and refund. As noted, the remedies that BD resembles generally call for a weighing of equities and case-specific circumstances. Because of the variety of interests involved in BD and the nature of the remedy it provides, a similar approach is appropriate to incorporate into the Federal standard. It also provides a limiting principle that addresses the comments concerned that full discharges and refunds would be warranted for trivial misstatements or borrowers with negligible harm.

As part of this determination, the standard provides for a rebuttable presumption that applicants who attended closed schools and otherwise establish a claim to relief are presumed to have suffered detriment that warrants BD relief. This presumption is based on the Department's experience that the circumstances in which BD has been the appropriate remedy to date are in cases involving closed schools. This does not mean that every alleged act or omission by a closed school will warrant relief, nor does it mean that borrowers who attended a closed school should expect the Department to automatically grant applications for BD. In cases where a school closes but there is no evidence of an act or omission that could give rise to a BD claim, the HEA still provides a path for borrowers who are otherwise harmed by the closure itself to get relief through the closed school discharge process. Applicants for BD who attended closed schools will still have to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the school committed actionable acts or omissions that caused them detriment. Although there is a presumption that such circumstances warrant BD remedies, it may be rebutted by evidence or reasons suggesting that the circumstances do not warrant the remedy of discharge and refund. The Department opted for this presumption because it acknowledges the context and challenges with obtaining additional evidence that often accompanies closed schools, while also allowing the Department to exercise its discretion based on the specific circumstances of each case.

Finally, the Department disagrees with the suggestion that the regulations require a finding of intent or knowledge by the institution for a BD claim to be approved. Requiring intent would place too great a burden on an individual borrower, who would need to have some way to know why the institution, or its representative committed the improper act or omission. Moreover, if the action resulted in detriment to the borrower that warrants relief, the Department does not believe whether it was taken with knowledge or intent should be relevant. The borrower still suffered detriment that warrants relief and so, if proven, should be relieved of their repayment obligation. The inclusion of a requirement that the action caused detriment to the borrower that warrants the relief of a full discharge and refunds means that harmless and inadvertent errors are unlikely to be approved. It is unlikely that a trivial action caused detriment and the Department will most likely not reach that conclusion. An error of consequence that causes detriment to a borrower that warrants relief should result in relief, however, regardless of whether it was made with knowledge.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b), the Federal standard for a BD, to require the Department to conclude that the institution committed “an actionable act or omission and, as a result, the borrower suffered detriment of a nature and degree warranting the relief provided by a borrower defense to repayment as defined in this section.”

We also added, in § 685.401(e), the general parameters that the Department will consider when determining whether detriment caused by a school's act or omission warrants relief. This involves the Secretary considering the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers. The standard also provides that for borrowers who attended a closed school shown to have committed actionable acts or omissions that caused the borrower detriment, there will be a rebuttable presumption that the detriment suffered warrants relief under this section.

Comments: The Department received many comments with differing opinions on whether to presume reasonable reliance for an individual claim, as well as a group one. A few commenters requested a more explicit statement from the Department that we would presume reasonable reliance for an individual claim. Others, however, argued that the Department did not have the statutory authority to use a presumption of reliance and did not provide sufficient evidence for this proposal. These commenters also argued that a presumption of reliance, coupled with the absence of requirements such as showing harm, and the broad definitions of terms like aggressive recruitment, would lead to the approval of frivolous claims. Commenters also argued that concerns that borrowers fail to state reliance do not provide legal grounds for adopting a presumption in regulation. They argued that when agencies establish a presumption, they typically do so using a rational nexus between the proven and presumed facts and that the Department has not showed that would be the case.

Commenters also disagreed with the Department's citation to authority held by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The commenters argued that the FTC can only employ its presumption when there is proven widespread violations, which include material and widely disseminated misrepresentations. The commenters argued that the Department's proposed standard represented a lower bar than what the FTC uses. The commenters also said the presumption does not comport with Supreme Court rulings related to the application of presumptions and stated that some misrepresentations as outlined in § 668.72 must require a showing of individual reliance. Finally, a few commenters stated that borrowers should bear the burden of proving reliance. They noted that only the borrower knows if they relied upon a particular act or omission, and it would be difficult for an institution to rebut a presumption of reliance.

Discussion: We take seriously the concerns the comments express, and have revised the amendatory text, where appropriate, but we disagree with much of the commenters' reasoning.

Regarding concerns about applying a presumption of individual reliance, the final regulation includes a general causation element in the definition of BD that addresses this concern in some ways. In this respect, approved claims must be based on a showing that a school's actionable act or omission caused the borrower detriment. That showing may be based on an inference of causation that does not meet the strictures of a conventional common law fraud claim, but the Department will not presume causation based on a borrower establishing an actionable act or omission, standing alone. The general causation requirement and the reasons for adopting it are explained in response to other comments in this section.

The updated regulation does, however, retain the feature that adopts a rebuttable presumption that identified acts or omissions impacted each borrower in a group recommended for consideration under the proposed § 685.402. This is a logical feature of a process that considers claims collectively.

Contrary to a few commenters' suggestions, this feature does not permit a presumption where there is no rational nexus between the established and presumed facts. Rather, the regulation contemplates that a recommendation to consider certain borrowers' claims as a group will stem from facts supporting a logical inference that certain acts or omissions impacted members of the group in similar ways. For that reason, the rebuttable presumption accompanying a formed group will reflect a rational nexus between the proven facts and the presumed facts.

Likewise, a rebuttable presumption does not change the burden of persuasion, which will still require that the evidence show an entitlement to relief by a preponderance of the evidence. For purposes of schools' liabilities, the presumption will simply operate to shift the evidentiary burden to the school, while still allowing the school to rebut the presumption as to individuals in the identified group, or as to the group as a whole. In any recoupment action related to such a case, the members of the group will be identified. Although the group may include borrowers who did not file an individual application, the members of the group will be known as part of the fact-finding process. Because the Federal standard now focuses on causation rather than reliance, there is no need for the changes regarding presumptions for individual claims that commenters requested.

We disagree that the Secretary lacks the authority to provide for presumptions in the procedures for resolving BD claims. It is a well-established principle that administrative agencies may establish adjudication procedures that include evidentiary presumptions based on logical inferences drawn from certain facts.

We also disagree with commenters' attempts to distinguish the principles underlying presumptions drawn from FTC jurisprudence. The presumptions that the FTC uses are not limited to contempt proceedings and also apply in actions for restitution under Sec. 19 of the FTC Act. What is more, commenters ignore key differences between FTC enforcement and BD that underscore the Department's authority here. First, the FTC actions that commenters reference involve civil enforcement proceedings meant to encourage compliance with general commercial standards and deter practices that financially harm consumers in general. In contrast, the Department's BD-related recoupment actions against schools involve the collection of discharged loan amounts so that the party that caused the loss reimburses the Government and taxpayers. That is, unlike the civil remedies that the FTC deploys, the Department's BD-related proceedings with schools simply involve the Department seeking reimbursement for liabilities owed to the Department as a result of the schools' voluntary participation in the title IV programs. Second and relatedly, the FTC's enforcement authority stems from more than 70 different laws and covers an extensive range of consumer interactions that make commercial actors subject to the FTC's consumer-oriented jurisdiction simply by virtue of engaging in economic activity with consumers. The scope of BD, on the other hand, only encompasses Federal loans paid to schools through the Department-administered title IV programs in which schools affirmatively and voluntarily sought eligibility to participate. To be eligible to participate in these programs, a school must also expressly agree to be subject to the Department's regulations, which includes assuming responsibility and liability for losses the Department incurs from relevant discharges. See34 CFR 685.300. Not only do the regulations explicitly provide for such reimbursements, but they also have included features like the presumption commenters reference long before this rule. The 2016 regulation specifically provides for such presumptions. Similarly, the 1994 regulation empowered the Department to apply State law, which would include presumptions applied in many jurisdictions. As we explained when the final 2016 regulations were published, the presumption that those regulations codified did not “establish[ ] a different standard than what [wa]s required under the . . . [1995] regulations” in place at that time. Indeed, as noted, agencies retain the discretion to apply presumptions in the adjudication process that are not codified in regulations at all so long as a rational nexus exists between the relevant evidence and presumptive inferences to be drawn from it.

The upshot of these differences is that the procedural steps required for FTC presumptions are based on many reasons that do not apply to the BD context. That obviates the need to recreate similar procedures as a prerequisite to applying presumptions in BD-related proceedings. That is particularly the case because recreating such procedures would meaningfully hinder the efficient administration of BD proceedings, which are an integral part of the Department's role as the administrator of title IV Federal loan programs. The Department has authority to administer those programs in a way that honors borrowers' right under the HEA to raise a defense to collection of their loan and that ensures schools satisfy the financial commitments and obligations they undertake as a condition of title IV participation. Thus, the interagency differences that the comments mention support the Department's authority to craft a context-specific process for resolving claims for BD.

Changes: The Department revised § 685.401(b) to provide that, to approve a claim, the Department must conclude the institution made an actionable act or omission that caused detriment to the borrower that warrants the relief provided under BD.

Comments: A few commenters argued that the Department should adopt a plausible basis requirement for BD claims similar to the Federal pleading standard. In this situation, the Department would assume that well-articulated factual allegations are true and then determine whether they give rise to relief. The commenters also argued that the claimant should be required to state the claim with particularity as required under certain elements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Discussion: We agree in part with the comments but disagree that it would be appropriate to adopt specific pleading standards—whether heightened or relaxed—drawn from civil litigation. Without adopting specific standards, the Department has made revisions that address many of the concerns expressed in these comments.

With regard to pleading standards, revisions to the regulations set forth basic requirements for a materially complete individual claim application. These requirements are discussed in greater detail in the section in Process to Adjudicate Borrower Defense Claims, but their core purpose is to increase the quality of and content in individual applications by requiring an adequate description of the alleged acts or omissions, along with their relevant circumstances, impact, and resulting detriment. This differs from a particularity requirement such as Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) but addresses some commenter concerns.

The Department declines to adopt a plausibility requirement. Principally, the BD adjudication process does not implicate the plausibility standard's goal of resolving claims early to avoid expensive and burdensome discovery costs. Nor does the BD process implicate other pleading-related concerns of providing a defendant adequate notice, because the Department is the party against which borrowers assert a defense to repayment. Otherwise, we think the updated guidelines for a materially complete application will adequately address concerns about applications lacking sufficient information.

Accordingly, we clarify the definition of a materially complete application to require that borrowers provide certain details that form the basis of a claim, but we are not asking borrowers to provide factual support for claim elements that they are unlikely to know or have the ability to obtain, such as centralized corporate practices, advertising plans, or the calculation formulas behind institutional job placement rates.

Changes: We clarified the definition of a materially complete application in §§ 685.402(c) and 685.403(b) to require that borrowers provide certain details that form the basis of a claim.

Comments: Some commenters raised concerns about whether the Department would terminate or otherwise sanction institutions for past behavior based upon new items in part 668, subpart F or the new part 668, subpart R. They raised concerns about institutions potentially facing adverse actions for past conduct now covered by these additions.

Discussion: The Department notes that some of the changes to Part 668, subpart F represent items that are not new but have simply been moved to other locations or slightly restated. Other elements in that subpart, as well as part 668, subpart R are new. For the items that are new, the Department could bring adverse actions in relation to conduct that occurs on or after July 1, 2023 that violates those new provisions.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters argued that the Federal standard and its relation to other prior standards would confuse borrowers and adds unnecessary complexity.

Discussion: We disagree. As noted in the NPRM, the Department is concerned that the fact that the current framework of associating a regulation with a disbursement date can be very confusing for borrowers, especially if their borrowing spans multiple regulations or they consolidate. The single upfront Federal standard will reduce that confusion. This approach avoids the possibility that different loans held by the same borrower and related to the same allegations could otherwise result in different adjudication outcomes, which would be confusing.

Changes: None.

Substantial Misrepresentation

Comments: A commenter made several suggestions regarding the definition of misrepresentations related to job placement rates in § 668.74. These included clarifying that these are misrepresentations related to the use of placement rates in marketing materials, not what is reported to accreditors or State agencies; allowing paid internships of a certain minimal length to be considered a placement; saying that placement rates can align with the methodology historically accepted by an accreditor or State agency; counting borrowers who were placed prior to graduation as part of a clear disclosure; and, allowing for the exclusion of non-respondents after a good faith attempt to contact them and alongside a disclosure. The commenter also provided regulatory text to execute their suggested changes.

Discussion: § 668.74 (g)(1) already states that a misrepresentation exists if the actual employment rates are materially lower than the rates included in the institution's marketing materials, website, or other communications, so we do not believe further clarification is needed there. However, after reviewing § 668.74(g)(1)(ii) we believe the phrasing there was not sufficiently clear. Accordingly, we have revised § 668.74(g)(1)(ii) to clarify that the rates in question are the ones disclosed to students. In reviewing the request for greater clarity we also concluded that the language in 668.74(g)(1)(ii)(C) did not fully capture the issues that the Department has seen in that space. Accordingly, we clarified that language to say “assessments of employability” in addition to difficulty with placement. This addresses two issues the Department has seen. One is institutions excluding borrowers from a placement rate solely because they did not follow a strictly defined job search process as laid out by the institution. The other is excluding students because the institution thinks the person would have a hard time finding a job, which can include someone who is pregnant. Regarding the other suggestions, we believe it is important for the placement rates provided to borrowers to be as straightforward as possible, and the comment did not provide reasons for further limiting the grounds for misrepresentation set forth in § 668.74(g)(1)(ii)(A) through (C). We have, however, deleted § 668.74(g)(1)(ii)(D). The commenter noted that the treatment of non-respondents could potentially also deflate placement rates if someone who is placed does not respond. Given the potential for the treatment of non-respondents to increase or decrease the placement rate, we believe this provision is not as consistent in resulting to rates that are overstated as paragraphs (A) through (C).

The Department also notes that the Federal standard for BD incorporates misrepresentations as defined in § 668.71(c), which include representations to accrediting agencies, State agencies, and others. Whether any such statement amounts to a substantial misrepresentation will depend on whether it is false or misleading. For purposes of BD, the Department would have to further conclude that the misrepresentation misled a particular borrower and caused the borrower detriment such that it warrants a full discharge and refund. Thus, not every substantial misrepresentation under part 668, subpart F will support a defense to repayment and the remedies it entails. In addition to this flexibility, the regulations permit the Department to seek additional evidence from requestors, when appropriate, and permit schools with various opportunities to be heard. Given these features, the Department disagrees that the definition of substantial misrepresentation should be changed.

Changes: We have revised § 668.74(g)(1)(ii) to clarify it applies to rates disclosed to students. We have clarified § 668.74(g)(1)(ii)(C) to note this also includes assessments of employability. We have also deleted § 668.74(g)(1)(ii)(D).

Comments: One commenter stated that the Department's proposal to add false, erroneous, or misleading statements concerning institutional selectivity rates or rankings as a form of misrepresentation was confusing and pointed out possible inconsistencies in that approach. Another commenter requested clarification on the Department's approach to “highly ranked and highly selective programs.”

Discussion: We appreciate the questions raised by the commenters. The goal behind § 668.72(m) is to capture misrepresentations in which the institution misleads students into thinking the school itself or a program it offers has selective entrance requirements when that is not the case. The Department had attempted to capture this concept by pointing to two different types of misrepresentations. The first type would have been when the school's actual selectivity or admissions profiles or requirements are materially different than how they were presented by the school, such as representations making it seem to students that a school is highly selective when it is in fact open access. The other type would have been when an institution's actual rankings are materially different from those advertised.

After reviewing the proposed language following questions from the commenters, the Department has simplified the phrasing in § 668.72(m) concerning selectivity rates to state: “Institutional or program admissions selectivity if the institution or program actually employs an open enrollment policy.” This language better captures the concept in the first type of misrepresentation, which involves the false presentation of an institution as selective when it is in fact open access. We added “program” to this definition as well, to acknowledge that some open-access institutions have individual programs that are selective and thus would not trigger a misrepresentation under this section.

In making this change, the Department deleted the components related to admissions profiles and requirements, which are vague and difficult to follow. We have also deleted the references to presenting rankings that are materially different from those presented to others. The Department is not aware of instances where an institution has presented a ranking different than what a rankings organization published. Instead, the Department has seen instances in which institutions have presented incorrect data that resulted in the ranking assigned being higher than it would otherwise have been and that ranking is then advertised accurately. Accordingly, we have simplified this type of misrepresentation to reflect past misbehavior observed at institutions.

In response to the commenter who requested clarification on the Department's approach to “highly ranked and highly selective programs,” we decline to further elaborate as we have revised the definition of this type of misrepresentation under § 668.72(m).

Changes: We revised § 668.72(m) to provide that misrepresentation concerning the nature of an eligible institution's educational program includes, but is not limited to, false, erroneous or misleading statements concerning institutional or programmatic admissions selectivity if the institution or program employs an open enrollment policy.

Omission of Fact

Comments: The Department received numerous comments alleging instances where institutions omitted facts about their academic program. For example, a commenter stated that they discovered that they needed additional certifications and training to be employed in the field but only learned about this well after enrollment. This commenter claimed that their institution did not inform them of the additional requirements needed beyond the degree program, including subsequent training or education, and had they known, they would not have pursued the degree.

Discussion: The Department appreciates hearing about the commenters' experiences. These reports, along with the Department's oversight and compliance work, validate the Department's determination to include an omission of fact as one of the bases for a defense to repayment claim. Had institutions not omitted material information about the nature of their educational programs, but instead disclosed such information upfront, this could have resulted in a different outcome for the student and negated the need for a defense to repayment claim.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters requested that omission of fact be revised so that an omission be considered a defense to contract performance only when there is knowledge that omission makes it fraudulent, or contrary to good faith and fair dealing, or trust and confidence.

Discussion: We disagree with comments requesting that actionable omissions be required to meet conventional elements of common law fraud or defenses to contract performance. Many of those elements are intended to ensure proof that the omission caused the harm asserted or formation of the relevant contract, respectively. We consider the general causation element added to the definition of BD and the Federal standard to adequately ensure a causal link between a potential omission and the detriment to a borrower. We also note that the breach-of-contract basis for showing an actionable act or omission does not require fraud, but rather failure to perform an obligation promised in exchange for the borrower's decision to enroll or take out a loan or to accept a disbursement of the loan.

As for the omission-related element commenters sought, we note that actionable omissions incorporate the definition of misleading conduct from part 668, subpart F, which requires that the omission make the school's interaction with a borrower misleading under the circumstances. Otherwise, we disagree that an omission must be accompanied by a specific duty to disclose or scienter requirement to be actionable. Not only would those requirements be unrealistic for borrowers to prove without the tools of civil discovery, but it would overlook the realities of transactions at the core of student loans and BD. In circumstances where the school's failure to disclose certain facts causes the borrower to be misled, such circumstances should be actionable. The updated regulations reflect that reality, but by adding a general causation element, it also ensures that defense to repayment is only available when such omissions are shown to have caused the borrower detriment.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters representing the legal aid community expressed support for the proposed condition in § 668.75(a) about omissions related to “[t]he entity that is actually providing the educational instruction, or implementing the institution's recruitment, admissions, or enrollment process.” These commenters noted that in their work they have frequently found that borrowers report being dismayed when they find out that someone, they thought was a school employee was in fact a contractor. The commenters noted that these borrowers indicated that they would have approached the conversation with a higher degree of skepticism had they understood that they were speaking with a contractor. Similarly, the commenters stated they heard concerns from students who enrolled in online programs where the organization that designed the curriculum and provided the instruction was not the same as the institution under whose branding the program appeared. Other commenters raised concerns that this condition would confuse borrowers who may not understand the relationship between service providers and the institution, and that organizations with trusted contractors do not commonly require employment disclosures before discussions with students or prospective students. A commenter also noted that institutions sometimes use contractors to assist them during the busiest parts of the financial aid year and asked if such a situation would require disclosure that such a person is a contractor. That commenter also asked why the requirement that contractors be identified as third-party servicers with the Department is not sufficient to address this concern.

Discussion: The Department appreciates the comments noting support for its proposed rule on this issue. As commenters noted through testimony from borrowers, had the student known they were talking to an employee of the institution versus someone employed to recruit on behalf of the school, that student would have changed their perception of the transaction. While that does not necessarily mean they would not still have enrolled, the borrowers did report that they would have exercised a greater degree of skepticism than they otherwise employed. Similarly, borrowers should be clear about who will be providing the education in which they are investing. When a borrower enters into a financial transaction as significant as attending college, they should have sufficient clarity into the source of the education they are purchasing. That means understanding if they will be receiving instruction provided by employees of the institution or something that is fully or partially outsourced. Knowing this information allows them to more properly evaluate what they should be receiving at the outset and should reduce concerns later that the education was not what was promised.

With regard to the commenters who are concerned that requiring employment disclosures would confuse borrowers, adding the requirement in the Federal standard that the Department must conclude the act or omission caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief gives an institution a framework to consider whether failing to disclose the role of a contractor could meet such a standard. If failure to provide such a disclosure does not meet this standard, then it would not result in an approved borrower defense claim.

The reporting of third-party servicers to the Department is insufficient to address this concern. The regulations at § 668.25 provide the general framework governing the situations in which schools may contract with entities to help with administering the title IV programs but this relationship is largely unknown to students or borrowers; these students and borrowers view the third-party servicer and the institution as one and the same. Moreover, the regulations are intended to address the responsibilities of the institution and third-party servicer to the Department within the context of the title IV programs. While both the school and the third-party servicer are liable for any related actions by the third-party servicer, the school is ultimately held accountable if a third-party servicer mismanages the title IV programs. As noted by the commenters, a borrower's understanding of whether they are talking to an employee or contractor when making judgments about whether to enroll is important for making a decision. Such information thus needs to be provided to the borrower if failing to tell them could cause detriment to the borrower that warrants borrower defense relief.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b), the standard for a borrower defense to repayment, to provide that, to approve a BD claim, the Department must conclude that the institution committed “an actionable act or omission and, as a result, the borrower suffered detriment of a nature and degree warranting the relief provided by a borrower defense to repayment as defined in this section.”

Comments: A few commenters requested that the Department make the list of omissions exhaustive while deleting § 668.75(e) (which makes actionable any omission of fact regarding the nature of the institution's educational programs, the institution's financial charges, or the employability of the institution's graduates), saying that category would lead to an overwhelming number of disclosures for borrowers. Commenters noted that an exhaustive list of omissions would give institutions more clarity. Similarly, a few commenters made general requests for greater clarity and specificity. Some also proposed a safe harbor for institutions if they provide documentation that shows students received all disclosures already required under other Department regulations. Other commenters asked the Department to either include a list of required disclosures or incorporate by reference the disclosures imposed by State and accrediting agencies so that borrowers will know what they need to receive, and institutions will know how to meet agency expectations. Other commenters cited the types of statements they have in their enrollment agreements that require students to acknowledge the information received and that they understood it as a way of showing the kind of evidence they would want to submit to disprove a borrower's allegations.

Discussion: The concerns of the commenters are best addressed by the Department's changes to the overall Federal standard that require the act or omission to cause detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. Adopting those elements will protect against the concerns raised by commenters, such as that the omission of an unimportant piece of information could lead to an approved claim. We believe our changes give institutions clarity in thinking about whether an act or omission may give rise to an approved borrower defense claim and eliminates the need for additional specificity within the elements in § 668.75. The Department declines to make the list exhaustive, as the list of misrepresentations is similarly non-exhaustive as a way of giving the Department flexibility to identify other concerning acts or omissions that may arise over time. The proposed safe harbor or list of disclosures would be inappropriate because institutions are already required to abide by the disclosure requirements in 34 CFR part 668, subpart D (institutional and financial assistance information for students), and such a safe harbor or list would mean just following the Department's regulations even if the institution does so while still failing to inform borrowers of other critical information that is not explicitly provided. The Department appreciates the examples raised by commenters of how some institutions ask borrowers to acknowledge the receipt of certain information provided to them. That type of information would be considered during the fact-specific review of a BD claim.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b), the standard for a borrower defense to repayment, to provide that, to approve a claim, the Department must conclude that the institution committed “an actionable act or omission and, as a result, the borrower suffered detriment of a nature and degree warranting relief provided by a borrower defense to repayment as defined in this section.”

Breach of Contract

Comments: Many commenters wrote in expressing support for the inclusion of a breach of contract standard.

Discussion: The Department thanks the commenters for their support and agrees with the importance of including this as an element of an approved borrower defense claim.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters opposed the inclusion of breach of contract and asked for its removal. They said that the Department lacked the statutory authority to include it. Some argued that a breach of contract would either be a misrepresentation or an instance where a college closed and that anything in between was too vague to include. A few commenters also argued that the Department lacked the ability to properly interpret State contract law and did not specify how it would reconcile State contract law with Federal law. Commenters also argued that the Department should not preempt State remedies for breaches of contract and noted that the lack of a limitations period for filing a borrower defense claim was contrary to limitations that may apply to contracts.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters who said that we lacked the statutory authority to include breach of contract as an act or omission. As we've explained throughout the NPRM and this final rule, Sec. 455(h) of the HEA requires the Secretary to specify in regulations which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a defense to the repayment of a Direct Loan and the Department is asserting, and explains in detail, that a breach of contract is an appropriate act or omission to include in the borrower defense Federal standard.

The commenters mischaracterize the Department's regulations. Under these regulations the Department will only determine whether the borrower has stated a basis for a BD claim on their Direct Loan based on the alleged breach of contract by the school. This determination resolves the borrower's qualification for a Federal benefit and does not make any determination of the rights of the parties under the contract itself or under the State laws which apply to those contracts.

While we acknowledge that a breach of contract could be a misrepresentation, in some instances a breach of contract claim may very well not fit into the Department's substantial misrepresentation standard. Where a breach of contract does not meet the elements of substantial misrepresentation, borrowers would have a basis for a BD claim based on the institution's failure to deliver educational services per the contract. We also explain in the NPRM why we were convinced to include breach of contract in the Federal standard and concluded that borrowers may be able to allege breach of contract more readily.

We further dismiss any notion that the Department's inclusion of breach of contract would be too vague to include in the Federal standard. A breach needn't be an extreme case such as, for example, a closed school. Because a breach of contract is a cause of action that is well established with the same basic elements in the laws of all States, territories, and the District of Columbia, codifying breach of contract in the Federal standard in the area of contracts between the student-institution would ensure consistency and predictability in this area. Furthermore, it is a common practice for the standards in Federal regulations draw on common law concepts and principles.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters requested that the Department clarify what constitutes a contract for purposes of a borrower asserting a defense to repayment under a breach of contract. They said otherwise the proposed standard is too vague and overbroad.

Discussion: For purposes of BD, the terms of a contract between the school and a borrower will largely depend on the circumstances of each claim. As we stated in the NPRM for the 2016 regulations, a contract between the school and a borrower may include an enrollment agreement and any school catalogs, bulletins, circulars, student handbooks, or school regulations. 81 FR at 39341. We decline to clarify the elements of what constitutes a contract because that is a fact-intensive determination best made on a case-by-case basis. We also acknowledge that State law generally guides what constitutes a contract and that such laws vary among States. Similar to our position in 2016, the Department intends to make these determinations of what constitutes a breach of contract consistent with generally recognized principles applied by courts in adjudicating breach of contract claims. To the extent that Federal and State case law has resolved these issues, we will be guided by that precedent. Application of the standard will thus be guided but not controlled by State law. Moreover, the Department will continue to evaluate claims as they are received and may issue further guidance on this topic as necessary.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter stated it was unclear if an act or omission in § 685.401(a) must directly relate to or give rise to the breach of contract or must itself constitute the breach of contract.

Discussion: Consistent with the Department's interpretation of its authorizing statute, the act or omission by the school must be the breach of contract itself. We are clarifying, however, that the breach of contract must be related to the BD claim.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b)(3) to state that a borrower has a defense to repayment if the institution failed to perform its obligation under the terms of a contract with the student and such obligation was undertaken as consideration for the borrower's decision to attend, or to continue attending, or for the borrower's decision to take out a covered loan.

Comments: One commenter expressed concern that the breach of contract standard fails to protect institutions for situations out of their control. They pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to move classes online, and the resulting lawsuits.

Discussion: We believe that the changes we have made to the proposed regulations address the commenter's concern. A breach of contract is a defense to repayment only if the institution failed to perform its obligations under the contract and the obligation was consideration for the borrower's decision to attend or continue attending the institution or for the borrower's decision to take out a covered loan. We believe that this additional language will largely limit the approval of BD claims based on a breach of contract to those within the institution's control or those that the institution could have avoided.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b)(3) to state that a borrower has a defense to repayment if the institution failed to perform its obligation under the terms of a contract with the student and such obligation was undertaken as consideration for the borrower's decision to attend, or to continue attending, or for the borrower's decision to take out a covered loan.

Aggressive and Deceptive Recruitment

Comments: Many commenters approved of the Department's definition of aggressive and deceptive recruitment tactics or conduct (hereafter “aggressive recruitment”) and supported the inclusion of this category. They shared examples from borrowers of aggressive recruitment. Other commenters expressed concern that the proposed definition and its terminology were vague. Commenters said this could result in the Department approving claims even if the information the institution presented to the borrower was accurate and without omission; such commenters suggested that the Department be required to make a determination of reasonable, actual reliance and material harm to the borrower's detriment with respect to aggressive recruitment. These commenters alleged that the terms “take advantage,” “pressure,” “immediately,” “repeatedly,” and “unsolicited contact” are ambiguous and further definitions are necessary to educate institutions and clarify what evidence would be required to allege or defend such a claim. Commenters raised similar concerns about the reference to “threatening or abusive language or behavior.” Commenters asked for more guidance on what it would take to disprove allegations under each prong. Commenters also raised concerns about what it would mean to “take advantage” of a student's lack of knowledge or experiences in postsecondary education if they were unaware of a given student's background or circumstances. Other commenters claimed the definition of aggressive recruitment is not supported by statute and does not provide reasonable clarity to students, institutions, or the public. Many commenters called for removing aggressive and deceptive recruitment from the Federal standard. Others did not call for the removal of the standard but did express concerns about how to distinguish aggressive recruitment from typical institutional contact, such as notifying students about impending deadlines. Along similar lines, a commenter identified situations where there are in fact hard deadlines for students where communicating urgency is important. Others also raised concerns about how § 668.501(a)(1) would affect situations where the program does in fact have limited spots. Similarly, other commenters argued that the acts or omissions covered under subpart R would not be prohibited by any existing State laws. Other commenters argued that any elements that led to an approved borrower defense claim under subpart R would already be captured under misrepresentations or omissions.

Several commenters expressed confusion about the phrasing in § 668.500(a) that says aggressive and deceptive recruitment is prohibited in all forms, including “the effects of those tactics or conduct” that are reflected in the institution's marketing or promotional materials, among other things. They said it is unclear how the effect of a tactic can be expressed in marketing materials. Other commenters suggested that § 685.501(a)(3) be rewritten to require the institution took “unreasonable” advantage instead of just advantage of the student. Many commenters also expressed concerns about § 685.501(a)(5) saying it was unclear how failing to respond to information could be considered aggressive recruitment and expressing concerns about how to handle excessive requests for information from borrowers. One commenter asked for a safe harbor tied to this provision if they could show that an institution provided necessary information at some point during the enrollment process. Several commenters in the cosmetology sector also provided examples of mandated disclosures required by their accreditor in which students sign agreements noting that they understood provisions about an institution's programs and courses, among other things. They asked how that would interact with aggressive recruitment.

Discussion: Section 455(h) of the HEA requires the Secretary to specify the acts or omissions that would give rise to a successful BD claim. As with misrepresentations and omissions of fact, the concepts underpinning aggressive and deceptive recruitment resemble many causes of action under State law, with the common attribute of being practices that prevent the consumer from making an informed decision free of manipulation and misinformation. The items laid out in the definition of aggressive recruitment provide more detailed examples of conduct that would fall under this category, however, because States typically do not have consumer protection laws that are specific to postsecondary education. As the NPRM explained, this reflects the Department's experience that certain practices are particularly likely to mislead prospective borrowers, especially borrowers that are targeted for recruitment because of specific vulnerabilities.

We disagree with commenters who state that our definition of aggressive recruitment is not supported by statute and does not provide reasonable clarity to students, institutions, or the public. Section 432 of the HEA states that the Secretary has the authority to issue regulations deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the program and to establish minimum standards for sound management and accountability of the programs. Furthermore, Sec. 498 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1099c) provides that the Secretary determines and institution's administrative capability. These authorities give the Secretary adequate basis for defining aggressive recruitment for oversight purposes and as an act that would give rise to a defense to repayment claim.

In keeping with the other grounds for BD that emphasize the importance of borrowers making enrollment and borrowing decisions uncorrupted by misinformation and manipulation, the specific conduct in the definition of aggressive recruitment is derived from what the Department has seen in its own oversight work as well as in State and other Federal investigations into conduct by postsecondary institutions. Indeed, regulators at the State and Federal level have long recognized that consumers may be misled not just by a seller's communications, but by the pressure a recruiter or salesperson can create. As we explain in the NPRM, we incorporated some of the negotiators' proposals on aggressive recruitment, consulted with the FTC, and analyzed other Federal laws on unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices (UDAP).

We disagree with commenters who state that a BD claim that is approved under subpart R would be captured as a substantial misrepresentation or substantial omission of fact. In the NPRM, we cite our reason for including this new designation of acts or omissions as its own category. To those same points, aggressive and deceptive tactics capture a category that is in keeping with the other types of acts or omissions that are actionable, because based on the Department's experience, the combination of deceptive statements and aggressive tactics may coerce borrowers in such a way that in their enrollment or borrowing decisions they are similarly deprived of the right to make such consequential choices free of misinformation and manipulation. While these misrepresentations or omissions might not, on their own, amount to an act or omission that causes detriment warranting relief, when combined with aggressive sales tactics, it may deprive borrowers of the right to make a full and informed choice. Borrowers who are misled by this combination of aggressive and misleading conduct may otherwise be unable to successfully make out a BD claim under the specific grounds of a substantial misrepresentation or omission. Retaining aggressive and deceptive recruitment as its own category ensures these borrowers have a pathway to relief. There are also instances where aggressive recruiting on its own could lead to an approved BD claim even if it does not involve additional misrepresentations. The Department has seen instances where institutions use aggressive recruitment tactics such as: actively discouraging borrowers from seeking information from other sources; presenting information so quickly that borrowers cannot fully ascertain the true price of the program; and, failing to give the borrower the information and time to assess how much financial aid they would receive, how long the program will take, or what type of job opportunities they would be qualified for after completing the program. Such recruitment tactics could lead to a borrower enrolling without fully understanding the program they are purchasing and may thus end up spending significantly more money for the program than they expected, or not be qualified for the types of jobs they sought to obtain by enrolling in the program. As with all other possible paths to an approved BD claim, simply alleging acts of aggressive recruitment will not automatically result in an approved BD claim. Nor would all substantiated instances of aggressive recruitment behavior result in an approval. Rather, the Department would have to conclude that the allegation is substantiated and that the school's actions caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief.

Overall, laying out the categories of behavior that constitute aggressive and deceptive recruitment in a non-exhaustive list balances clarity for the field with enough flexibility such that other similar conduct identified later could also fall under this category. The commenters' concerns about vagueness are better addressed by the changes made to the overall Federal standard. The Department is changing § 685.401(b) to require that an approved borrower defense claim result from a finding that the act or omission by the institution caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. This requirement ensures that an inadvertent or immaterial instance of what otherwise might seem to be aggressive and deceptive recruitment, standing alone, will not necessarily warrant relief, nor would the type of reasonable contact that the commenters described—such as a reminder of upcoming financial aid deadlines. Rather, relief will be available in cases where the practices cause detriment to borrowers for which the appropriate remedy is discharge, refund, and other remedies that accompany a successful defense to repayment. This requirement also provides a framework for an institution to disprove an allegation of aggressive recruitment since they could show how the conduct did cause any detriment.

The Department did, however, identify some components of aggressive recruitment where we agree with commenters that items could be deleted or altered to improve clarity. We edited §§ 668.501 and 685.401(b) to clarify our intention. We also revised § 668.501(a)(4) to remove the term “appear to” when referring to instances of aggressive recruitment when an institution or its affiliates obtains the student or prospective student's contact information through websites or other means that falsely offers assistance to individuals seeking government benefits. The Department is concerned with instances when these sites do falsely offer assistance, which is a clearer standard than whether they just appear to. We have combined § 668.501(a)(1) and (2) into a single item related to pressuring a student to enroll, including falsely claiming that a student would lose the opportunity to attend the institution. This change addresses concerns raised by a few commenters about legitimate instances when there may in fact be a hard deadline for a student to enroll or where spaces may in fact be limited. Similarly, the Department has adjusted what was § 668.501(a)(3) (now § 668.501(a)(2)) to indicate that we consider aggressive recruitment to occur when the institution takes unreasonable advantage of a student's lack of knowledge or experience with postsecondary education, as suggested by commenters—a higher requirement than just taking advantage of lack of knowledge. Setting a standard of “took unreasonable advantage” instead of “took advantage” better aligns these requirements with those used for similar practices laid out in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). That legislation defines an abusive act as one that in part involves taking unreasonable advantage of a consumer. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) uses this definition in its work. Similarly, the FTC, CFPB, and State regulators and attorneys general consider whether a consumer could have reasonably avoided an injury in analyzing unfairness claims. These are suitable comparisons because they reflect how other State and Federal agencies address issues similar to what the Department is facing with BD claims.

Substantively, unreasonable advantage is a different concept than a requirement to show that an institution took advantage of someone. It acknowledges that the institution or its representatives had information not available to the borrower that indicated the product being marketed—in this case a postsecondary education—was not worth what the borrower was going to pay for it. This has shown up in the past when institutions made loans to students where they had estimates that showed 60 percent of more of the borrowers would likely default. Or, when an institution marketed programs that required externships that it knew it did not have sufficient spots for everyone it was admitting. As noted above, unreasonable advantage is also a concept that exists at the CFPB, which provides the Department additional precedent to consider. By contrast, simply requiring a finding that an institution took advantage of someone would be harder to ascertain because it would create a new legal standard that may be more challenging to define and apply consistently. Accordingly, a standard of unreasonable advantage will result in more consistent determinations.

Again, coupled with the requirement to show an act caused detriment to a student that warrants relief, this phrasing clarifies that the Department seeks to address conduct that falls outside normal and reasonable interactions and causes detriment that is appropriately addressed by discharging a borrower's outstanding loan balance, refunding amounts previously paid to the Secretary, and receiving the default- and credit-related relief that accompanies those two remedies. We also further revised § 668.501(a)(4) concerning an institution that obtains a student's or prospective student's contact information through websites to include other means of communication to curb aggressive communications regardless of the source. We have also accepted the recommendation of commenters to delete proposed § 668.501(a)(5) concerning failure to respond to a student or prospective student's requests for more information. While institutions should ensure students get the information they request, we are persuaded by the concern that this provision lacked clarity about what information the institution would need to provide in response or how to address repeated requests for significant amounts of unnecessary information. Removing this requirement eliminates the need for the safe harbor requested by a commenter.

The Department also agrees with the commenters that the language in § 668.500(a) about the effect of tactics and conduct is confusing and will delete it.

Finally, with respect to the disclosures raised by commenters we note that such information would be useful to provide during the institutional response process in accordance with § 685.405.

Changes: We revised § 668.500(a) to delete the phrase “the effects of those tactics or conduct reflected.” We revised § 668.501(a)(1) to provide that demanding or pressuring students or prospective students to make enrollment or loan-related decisions immediately includes the conduct previously included in § 668.501(a)(2), which is now removed. We revised what is now § 668.501(a)(2) to describe that taking advantage of a borrower's lack of knowledge must be “unreasonable.” Additionally, we have removed § 668.501(a)(5) regarding failure to respond to students' requests for information. We made corresponding technical changes, such as renumbering, to reflect these edits. Finally, we revised § 685.401(b) to provide that, to approve a claim, the Department must find that any act or omission, including aggressive recruitment, caused detriment to the borrower that merits relief to assert a borrower defense to repayment.

Comments: A few commenters suggested the Department expressly provide that unfair or abusive conduct can give rise to a valid BD claim and suggested that the Department adopt an “unfair or abusive conduct” standard as grounds for relief in lieu of the aggressive recruitment standard. The commenters further stated the addition of unfairness or abusive conduct is particularly important if the Department excludes a State law standard in the initial review of an application, as many State laws include a broad definition of deceptive trade practices that incorporates unfair or abusive conduct. The commenters suggested the Department could adopt a similar approach and import established FTC case law regarding this standard, as well as the abusive practices standard within the Dodd-Frank Act and the CFPB's application of that law to protect student loan borrowers. Other commenters argued that the Department has not indicated it has the capacity to properly evaluate claims under the aggressive and deceptive recruitment standard after noting in the 2016 regulation that it did not believe it could.

Discussion: In 2016, the Department decided to consider aggressive recruitment as a factor in determining whether a misrepresentation under part 668, subpart F, was substantial enough to merit approval. Although the Department did not consider aggressive recruitment, standing alone, to warrant a distinct basis for a defense to repayment at that time, the Department's experience in the years since then along with developments in the law have led us to believe that an appropriate standard can now be articulated and enforced for BD and that including one as a distinct basis is a necessary addition to address gaps in the Federal standard. When the Department drafted the 2016 BD regulation it had received a significant influx of applications disproportionately associated with Corinthian Colleges. These were claims seeking discharges under an authority that had been used sparingly since the 1990s and the Department did not have any dedicated staff for reviewing those applications. For most of the period during the negotiated rulemaking sessions and drafting of the NPRM that resulted in the 2016 regulations, the Department's framework for reviewing borrower defense claims relied on the help of a special master. As such, the 2016 regulation reflected the Department's best assessments at the time of what would make a sensible rule based upon the work it had done.

The situation is very different in 2022. The Department for several years has had a dedicated unit that has built up expertise in reviewing BD claims. We have approved findings at several different institutions and for misrepresentations related to employment prospects, the ability to transfer credits, whether the program had necessary accreditation, and other acts or omissions. The borrower defense group staff have reviewed hundreds of thousands of applications. This includes adjudicating well over 250,000 applications, though we note that roughly half of those were denials that have since been challenged in court. As a result, we have a much stronger sense of what types of allegations we receive, what evidence we have obtained from borrowers or other third parties that have been useful in adjudicating claims, and what type of conduct appears to be associated with practices that can result in borrowers being harmed.

Our years of experience since last considering this issue have shown that the recruitment process is consistently one of the most common concerns raised by borrowers and when many of the misrepresentations that lead to borrower defense approvals occurred. The recruitment process is thus a period that raises concerns for the Department that millions if not billions of dollars are being loaned to students as a result of a process that has not allowed borrowers to fully understand the educational product underlying those loans.

The types of aggressive and deceptive recruitment covered by this rule represent both specific practices the Department has grave reservations about in addition to recruitment processes that are designed to exploit borrowers, incentivize manipulatively aggressive tactics, and are implemented at a structural and organizational level. The specific practices that give the Department reservations include gaining borrowers' contact information under false pretenses by pretending to be a website for receiving other Federal benefits. The organizational approaches that exploit borrowers are recruiting structures that either implement or unavoidably incentivize practices like using abusive or threatening language, misrepresenting decision deadlines to manufacture time pressure, discouraging them from consulting other individuals, and rushing them through the enrollment process.

Today, the Department's accumulated capabilities combine additional experience evaluating practices generally and accumulated examples of aggressive and deceptive recruitment we have observed. Together, these give the Department confidence it can make consistent and reasoned decisions on whether to approve claims alleging aggressive and deceptive recruitment. We further explain the inclusion of aggressive recruitment as a basis for a defense to repayment in the NPRM, 87 FR 41878, 41893-95 (July 13, 2022). The Department also consulted with the FTC and other Federal agencies to thoroughly analyze Federal laws on UDAP, and we believe UDAP violations could act as a relevant factor that would favor a finding of one of the enumerated bases for a defense to repayment.

As we stated in 2016, we believe that a comprehensive Federal standard appropriately addresses the Department's interests in accurately identifying and providing relief to borrowers for misconduct by institutions in appropriate cases; providing clear standards for the resolution of claims; and, avoiding for all parties the burden of interpreting the authority of other Federal agencies and States in the BD context. We believe that our comprehensive Federal standard, including the inclusion of aggressive recruitment as a new basis, would obviate the need for Department officials to become experts on State UDAP laws or to stand in the shoes of State courts. Furthermore, consumer protection laws sweep more broadly than the circumstances warranting BD relief. That is, UDAP and consumer fraud laws enforce certain warranty and transaction-related rights intended to remedy injuries that are different from the injuries that warrant a discharge, refund, and accompanying default- and credit-related remedies provided by a defense to repayment. For example, a seller charging small and incremental hidden fees or automatically renewing memberships at increased rates might create a cause of action under State UDAP laws. But such practices would be more appropriately addressed through damages awards or civil penalties. Adopting State UDAP laws as a standard would expand BD beyond its intended purpose. As a result, we decline to include UDAP violations as a basis for a defense to repayment.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter requested that aggressive recruitment not be triggered if the student is entering a program that has a trial or conditional enrollment period. The commenter stated that trial periods of enrollment have been permissible under Department guidance (see Dear Colleague Letter, GEN-11-12) and serve to prevent the very kind of pressured decision-making that raises concerns. The commenter also included suggestions on altering the language about pressuring the student to enroll immediately, including on the same day of first contact to reflect the treatment of trial periods.

Discussion: The commenter misconstrues the intention of GEN-11-12, which was to ensure equitable and consistent treatment of students when institutions offer trial periods of enrollment in academic programs, after which time the student would be responsible for program charges and would, if otherwise eligible, become eligible for title IV assistance.

In general, a “trial period” is the beginning of the student's attendance in an eligible program where the institution has not admitted the student as a regular student. While the details of each program may vary, the trial period of attendance is part of the eligible program, and academic credit earned by the student will count toward the student's completion of that program if the student becomes a regular student after the trial period. Because this trial period is part of the eligible program if the institution admits the student as a regular student after the trial period, total charges for the eligible program would include the trial period, and, if otherwise eligible, the student could receive title IV funds for the trial period. At the end of the trial period, the student has the option to leave, incurring nominal fees (such as an application fee) or no charges. If the student elects to continue beyond the trial period, the student is eligible for title IV funds back to the beginning of the program.

The Department declines to incorporate the safe harbor provision that the commenter suggests. A safe harbor would allow institutions that have trial periods the ability to engage in aggressive recruitment as an act that could rise to a defense to repayment and borrowers would be unable to assert that conduct as an act that could give rise to a defense to repayment. The Department does not share the commenter's view that trial periods prevent the pressured decision-making envisioned in these regulations, because an institution could still engage in aggressive recruitment even if it offers a trial period. Regardless of whether a student decides to continue enrollment beyond the trial period, that student must be able to make an informed decision about continuing enrollment without unnecessary duress.

While the Department disagrees with the commenter's suggestion to eliminate the application of aggressive recruitment altogether during a trial period, we have combined proposed § 668.501(a)(1) and (2) into a single item related to pressuring a student to enroll, including falsely claiming that a student would lose the opportunity to attend. This removes the mention of enrollment on the first day, which the commenter had suggested removing. It also addresses other comments concerned about the vagueness of specific terms in § 668.501(a)(1).

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested revising the definition of “representatives” for the purposes of aggressive recruitment.

Discussion: We disagree with the suggestion made by these commenters. This language is modeled on Part 668, subpart F, which also mentions a representative without a definition and has been in place for years. The Department believes the plain meaning of this term in the context of the HEA and our regulations is clear and that an institution should know the individuals or entities acting as representatives on its behalf.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested better defining “prospective student” in the context of aggressive recruitment. These commenters state that while the intent appears to be limiting the use of deceptive advertising, drawing the definition of a prospective student so broadly as to include anyone who has viewed or received an institution's advertising is impractical.

Discussion: The Department appreciates the concerns of the commenters, but we believe the revised definition of a BD claim addresses this concern. The definition of a prospective student for the purposes of aggressive and deceptive recruitment is the same as the one in § 668.71. There, prospective student is defined as any individual who has contacted an eligible institution for the purpose of requesting information about enrolling at the institution or who has been contacted directly by the institution or indirectly through advertising about enrolling at the institution. However, there would still need to be an overall finding that the aggressive and deceptive recruitment occurred and that it caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. Those added requirements will protect against immaterial instances of otherwise well-meaning recruitment.

To ensure the community has an adequate definition of prospective student for purposes of subpart R, the Department will incorporate the definition of prospective student as defined in § 668.71.

Changes: We are adding a new paragraph in § 668.500(c) that defines prospective student for purposes of subpart R. The Department will incorporate the definition in § 668.71.

Comments: A few commenters wrote in noting that the provision in § 668.501(a) related to the use of abusive or threatening language was reasonable. They did, however, raise concerns about the subjectivity of what might fall under this standard and asked for requirements that any approval under this prong require objective documentation.

Discussion: Evaluating a BD claim is not a formulaic process. Each individual or group claim will raise its own allegations and evidence that requires a fact-specific and tailored review. Those reviews inevitably require judgment by the individuals reviewing the claims, but the process for adjudicating a borrower defense claim and the standards a claim must meet are designed to ensure consistent decision-making—a process that addresses the commenters' concerns. First, the Department will review the application to ensure that it is materially complete. This will ensure there is enough detail for an institution to respond to the allegations. Second, the institution would have an opportunity to respond to those allegations. It would have an opportunity to both refute whether it thinks the abusive or threatening language occurred as well as whether if such action occurred, whether that action met the overall standard of causing detriment to the borrower that warrants relief. This produces evidence from both parties for consideration. Third, the Department would have to review that evidence. Fourth, the Department would have to conclude both that abusive or threatening language occurred and that the abusive or threatening language caused detriment to the borrower that is of a nature and degree that warrants relief. We believe this approach captures a process where the Department can make an objective determination as to whether a school's use of threatening or abusive language or behavior merits an approved BD claim under these regulations.

Changes: None.

Judgments Against Institutions and Final Secretarial Actions

Comments: Several commenters expressed support for the inclusion of judgments and final Secretarial actions as part of a strong Federal standard.

Discussion: The Department agrees with the commenters about the importance of these items and appreciates their support.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters requested that the Department remove judgments from the Federal standard. They argued that a judgment is not an act or omission. They also argued that the judgment should preclude additional claims to avoid violating principles of collateral estoppel, including granting a discharge under borrower defense.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters. As we explained in the NPRM, including judgment against an institution as part of the Federal standard would allow for recognition of State law and other Federal law causes of action, but would also reduce the burden on the Department and borrowers of having to make determinations on the applicability and interpretation of those laws. In addition, although a judgment is not itself an act or omission, it is necessarily based on acts or omissions. Relief is thus appropriate if those and the other factual findings essential to a judgment also support a BD claim.

We also decline to incorporate a bar on borrower defense claims if the borrower has sought or obtained independent relief from the school itself. Because different underlying legal or factual bases may have been involved in the judgment, the borrower could still raise a defense to repayment and have a valid claim that the institution otherwise engaged in an act or omission. Likewise, there are many potential actions that borrowers could have against schools that provide remedies that complement a defense to repayment rather than supplant it. The Department will, however, follow established principles of collateral estoppel in its determination of borrower defense claims, which reflects past Department practice.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters suggested that judgments against institutions should be revised to clarify that the judgment must include a specific determination as to the act or omission of the institution that relates to the borrower defense claim and that the portion of the judgment relating specifically to the act or omission must have been favorable to the student borrower. Commenters also argued that solely saying a judgment had to be in connection with borrowing a loan was too broad and vague or that judgments themselves should not be sufficient bases for BD relief. A few commenters urged the Department to clarify that judgments obtained by State attorneys general are also included, even though such actions are not class actions, and the borrower would not be considered a party to the case. These commenters suggested that the rationale for approving a BD claim due to a contested judgment in a class action applies just as forcefully to a judgment obtained by a State attorney general. Other commenters suggested that allowing all favorable judgments to establish a BD claim ensures that borrowers will be able to obtain relief as a consequence of litigation, even if the judgment ultimately is uncollectible. Commenters also asked how a settlement that did not include an admission of wrongdoing would be considered.

Discussion: The final regulations provide that judgments obtained against an institution based on any State or Federal law may be a basis for a BD claim, whether obtained in a court or an administrative tribunal of competent jurisdiction. Under these regulations, a borrower may use such a judgment as the basis for a BD claim if the borrower was personally affected by the judgment, that is, the borrower was a party to the case in which the judgment was entered, either individually or as a member of a class. To support a BD claim, the judgment must pertain to the making of a Direct Loan or the provision of educational services to the borrower. We do not believe that further clarification is necessary because the judgment, itself, would have to be connected to the provision of educational services for which the loan was provided, or the institution's act or omission relating to the borrower's decision to attend or continue attending the institution or the borrower's decision to take out a Direct Loan. Absent that qualifier, the borrower would not have a defense to repayment claim on this basis. As we explained in the NPRM, the favorable judgment against the institution would still be required to relate to the making of the Federal student loan to ensure that the scope of the judgment justifies approval of a BD claim. 87 FR at 41896. That is, the judgment must necessarily include factual findings that may stand in the place of the factual findings required for an approved BD claim.

The Department does not believe that further elaboration is necessary regarding the inclusion of a judgment obtained by a governmental agency, such as a State attorney general, in the universe of acceptable judgments that could form the basis for a defense to repayment. Existing regulations at § 685.222(b) provide that the governmental agency (in the case of a State attorney general) that obtains a favorable judgment against the institution based on State or Federal law in a court or administrative tribunal, in connection with the provision of educational services for which the loan was provided or the institution's act or omission relating to the borrower's attendance, could assert this basis as a defense to repayment. Therefore, no further clarification is needed.

Finally, a settlement is not a judgment and thus would not be captured under this provision. The Department could, however, consider underlying evidence that may have been used, produced, or considered as part of a settled lawsuit's filings or proceedings as part of the process for adjudicating a borrower defense claim under other elements of the Federal standard.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters requested that the Department clarify that the judgment against the school needs to relate to the BD claim. Another commenter requested that a judgment against an institution should only be considered if the basis of the judgment was due to conduct by the school that would give rise to a BD claim under the Federal standard and that the favorable judgment alone should not be the basis of the BD claim.

Discussion: We concur. Consistent with our position that a breach of contract must relate to the BD claim, the act or omission by the school is the class action or judgment itself. We are clarifying, however, that the judgment against the school must be related to the BD claim. A favorable judgment against an institution, alone, from a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction that was unrelated to a BD claim would not be sufficient.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b)(5)(i) to state that a borrower has a defense to repayment if the borrower, whether as an individual or as a member of a class, or a governmental agency has obtained against the institution a favorable judgment based on State or Federal law in a court or administrative tribunal of competent jurisdiction based on the institution's act or omission relating to the making of a covered loan, or the provision of educational services for which the loan was provided.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that the Department clarify what constitutes final Secretarial sanctions or other adverse actions against the institution in § 685.401(b)(5)(ii). Other commenters raised questions about how the failure to meet cohort default rate requirements could lead to an approved BD claim. Commenters also asked for clarity about how an administrative capability finding could connect to a BD claim and said they were concerned about the breadth of that part of the regulations when coupled with what they described as a vague description of educational services. Finally, a few commenters raised concerns that this provision may encourage institutions to challenge Department findings they previously would have agreed to, increasing the cost to institutions and the Department around other oversight work. Alternatively, other commenters argued that the possibility of approved BD claims could force institutions to settle some of these actions to avoid the consequences of losing a challenge.

Discussion: The goal behind the process based on final Secretarial actions is to clarify the connections between oversight actions taken by the Department and the approval of BD claims if the conduct that led to those sanctions would also give rise to a BD claim. To accomplish that goal, we have clarified the description of a final Secretarial action under § 685.401(b)(5)(ii) to state that this will only encompass actions under part 668, subpart G, the denial of an institution's application for recertification or revoking the institution's provisional program participation agreement under § 668.13. We further note that those actions must be based upon acts or omissions by an institution that could rise to a BD under the standards for substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, breach of contract, or aggressive and deceptive recruitment.

This exhaustive list and the explicit mention of a connection to a BD claim will provide the clarity requested by commenters. It also results in the removal of the provisions where commenters raised concerns about a lack of clarity.

This list represents the most serious and significant actions that the Department takes against a participating institution. Institutions already would have significant interests in challenging these actions, especially those that could result in loss of participation in the Federal student financial aid programs. Accordingly, this provision does not present the risk raised by commenters that institutions might challenge actions they would not otherwise contest. Similarly, given the seriousness of these actions, it is unlikely that the possibility of a related BD claim will encourage institutions to attempt settlement just to avoid the findings.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(b)(5)(ii) to state that a borrower has a defense to repayment if the Secretary took adverse actions against the institution under a subpart G proceeding, denied an institution's application for recertification or revoked the institution's provisional program participation agreement under § 668.13 for reasons that could give rise to a BD claim under substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, breach of contract, or aggressive and deceptive recruitment.

Comments: Commenters argued that the inclusion of final Secretarial actions as the basis for a BD claim did not specify any acts or omissions that could appropriately give rise to an approved borrower defense claim. They also argued that including this solely as a way of reducing burden was an insufficient rationale. They also expressed concerns about a lack of due process for final Secretarial actions.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters. The acts or omissions in question would still be subject to the elements of the Federal standard related to misrepresentation, omission, breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, or judgment. The inclusion of final Secretarial actions relates to drawing a clearer connection to when the Department already takes a final action that relates to those items. Doing so provides greater clarity about how, for example, a denial of an institution's application for recertification because of a misrepresentation then connects to borrower defense relief. As for issues related to due process, all of the actions contemplated in the definition of a final Secretarial action already provide for extensive due process for institutions. This includes opportunities for challenging the grounds for the action that would in turn also lead to the approved borrower defense claims.

Changes: None.

State Law Standard

Comments: A few commenters urged the Department to allow borrowers to assert claims under the State law standard at the same time they assert claims under the Federal standard. They argued that it was too long for borrowers to wait up to 3 years for a review under the Federal standard, plus an indeterminate period for reconsideration under the State standard. They suggested that the Department could still choose to adjudicate claims under the Federal standard first.

Other commenters argued that the Department should limit application of the State law standard to borrowers with loans that would otherwise be covered under the 1994 regulations. They argued that the Department's rationale for including a State law standard, at most, justified its inclusion only for loans covered by the 1994 regulation. A few commenters argued for the complete elimination of the State law standard. Some commenters also argued against the use of a State law standard saying that it runs counter to the Department's arguments about streamlining the borrower defense process, that the Department lacks the ability to review State laws, and that inclusion of a State law standard violates principles of federalism.

Discussion: In the NPRM, § 685.401(c) provided that a violation of State law could form the basis for a BD claim but only upon reconsideration. That meant State law could only be used after a claim was denied in whole or in part and if the Department received a request for a claim to be reconsidered. Similarly, § 685.407, provided that only an individual borrower, or a State requestor in the case of a group claim brought by a State requestor, could request reconsideration of the Secretary's full or partial denial of a claim.

As we explained in the NPRM, during negotiated rulemaking non-Federal negotiators proposed that violations of State law be included in the initial adjudication as one element of the Federal standard. The Department believed such an upfront analysis would be unduly burdensome and would delay relief to borrowers whose claims merited approval. The Department reasoned that a strong Federal standard in the initial adjudication would also minimize confusion for borrowers.

In applying these regulations, the Department will first adjudicate the claim under the Federal standard in § 685.401(b) which we believe will resolve most claims that would be approved under either the Federal or State standard. Where adjudication under the Federal standard does not result in an approval, the State law standard is available to certain borrowers as part of the reconsideration process. Where applicable, both third-party requestors and individual claimants will be able to request application of a State law standard upon reconsideration.

The Department, however, is persuaded by both public comments and consideration of operational needs that determinations under State law should be limited to reconsideration for loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2017. On the first point, the Department has articulated that one of its goals in issuing this regulation is constructing a single Federal standard that can ensure consistency in decision-making across all claims pending on July 1, 2023 or received on or after that date. Adopting a single Federal standard provides clarity to borrowers who file an application so they know what standards will apply to their claim. The current lack of a uniform Federal standard for all claims risks substantial borrower confusion regarding the necessary elements for a successful claim. Those elements could vary widely depending on the applicable state law, which might also be unclear due to ambiguity from choice-of-law issues. Adopting a single Federal standard also provides predictability to institutions and ensures more consistent decision-making by the Department, which will be using the same policies and procedures to review all claims. The use of a State law standard is necessary, for at least some period of time, because claims filed by all borrowers with loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2017 would currently be subject to that standard. However, the number of claims in that category will fall over time as those loans are paid off, while the number of claims from more recent years will grow as time passes. The relative share of claims that are potentially reviewable under two sets of standards should thus decline over time with the structure of this final rule. The indefinite inclusion of a State law standard works against that goal. It would mean that all loans in perpetuity are eligible for reviews under both a Federal and a State standard. This would undermine the goals of simplification and consistency because the latter option would vary based upon their state of residence, the school's location, and the manner in which they communicated and engaged with the school.

The ongoing usage of a State law standard also represents very significant operational challenges for the Department. For one, State laws frequently change. That would require the Department to regularly confirm laws haven't changed, and if they have, determine the dates that such alterations occurred and how they might affect borrowers, including those with pending claims. That would add a very significant amount of work and require the continual monitoring and analysis of all 50 State laws, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the territories. For each claim the Department would also have to conduct a choice-of-law analysis and confirm that we have the evidence needed to apply the relevant law selected. This all adds significant time and complexity to the claims resolution process. The Department is particularly concerned about the potential added time because this rule limits how much time the Department may take to decide applications or else declare the loans unenforceable. While the timelines established in these regulations do not include time for reconsideration, both initial decisions and reconsiderations will draw from the same pool of resources and personnel. (The actual staff that conduct the reconsideration of a given borrower's claim would be different than the one that did the initial review). A potentially extensive number of reconsideration requests, all of which necessitate a more detailed legal review could jeopardize the Department's ability to meet the timelines for initial decisions or result in borrowers waiting inordinate periods for reconsideration decisions.

The indefinite inclusion of a State law standard also runs the risk of inaccurate decision-making. Adopting a Federal standard allows the Department to conduct training and ensure that its reviewers are applying consistent approaches and protocols to claims. It is unrealistic to be able to train all reviewers on 50-plus State standards. The result is there is greater risk that the decision made by one reviewer may be different when considering State laws.

For all the reasons identified above, we will keep the ability to bring a reconsideration request under the State law standard for loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2017. As noted, these borrowers already have access to State law review under the 1994 regulation and this leaves their treatment unchanged. This limitation will also result in a single Federal standard for all new loans issued over the last 5 years and into the future. Because borrowers with loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2017, always had access to a State law standard, it is not possible to fully eliminate this element, as requested by a few commenters.

Substantively, this limitation on the application of State law in the consideration of BD claims will not result in a material change to the likelihood that a borrower's claim will be approved. That is because the rule's unified Federal standard reflects elements of a variety of State laws, but its core elements—actionable conduct, causation, and detriment—are basic elements of fraud- or deception-based causes of action. The Department does not believe that an equivalent remedy would be available to a borrower under any individual State standard that is not available under the Federal standard.

Indeed, many State laws are narrower than the Federal standard. For instance, claims for common law fraud or violations of applicable UDAP statutes in many states require proof of intent, knowledge, or recklessness—requirements that are not present in the Federal standard. Many State-law causes of action also require particularized proof of causation-related elements such as reliance. The Federal standard employs a general causation element that does not force claimants to satisfy individual steps in the causal chain with a particular form of proof. Some State laws also demand a more detailed showing of loss or harm to the borrower than the approach adopted by the Department. The Department also notes that, in conventional civil litigation, a plaintiff may principally benefit from invoking a certain State law due to the additional remedies available, which is not relevant here, because the available remedies are the same for all successful BD claims.

Therefore, the Department will limit the availability of the State law standard to reconsideration requests relating to loans that were first disbursed before July 1, 2017.

Changes: We revised § 685.401(c) to state that a borrower has a defense to repayment under the applicable State law standard, but only for loans disbursed before July 1, 2017, and only upon reconsideration as described under § 685.407.

Limitations Period for Filing a Claim

Comments: The Department received comments with differing opinions on whether borrowers should only be able to file a defense to repayment claim within a set period. Several commenters supported the Department's proposal to allow borrowers to submit a claim at any point. Other commenters asserted that there should be clearer statutes of limitations for pursuing claims. These commenters expressed concerns that the absence of any meaningful limitations period contradicts existing public and judicial policy, which strongly favors statutes of limitation, and they asserted that a reasonable limitations period would guard against the litigation of stale claims, reduce the risk of an erroneous discharge and spare institutions the unfair task of defending an old claim. Commenters also argued that it was unreasonable to have a statute of limitations beyond the 3-year record retention requirement for student financial aid records. They said the longer period for filing a claim means that institutions must maintain records for longer than would be appropriate. They also disagreed with the Department's position in the NPRM that the most relevant records for adjudicating a BD claim would not be subject to a 3-year retention requirement. Commenters also argued that the requirement in the 2019 regulations that borrowers file a claim within 3 years of leaving an institution gave borrowers sufficient time to decide whether to raise a claim, especially if the act or omission in question occurred during the admission process and the borrower attended the school for multiple years. These commenters also argued that, while the Department cited concerns about administering a statute of limitations, it did not sufficiently explain why a bright-line standard of 3 years after leaving school was not administrable. Finally, commenters argued that the lack of a statute of limitations, coupled with the reconsideration process, meant that institutions would lack any finality on claims.

Conversely, other commenters stated that many borrowers do not find out about their right to a discharge, or how to apply, until much later, which is often when the student is no longer enrolled at the institution, and these commenters supported the Department's proposal that borrowers with an outstanding loan balance would not be subject to a limitations period.

Discussion: The Department has concluded that there should be no statute of limitations for filing a BD claim, so long as the borrower still has outstanding loans related to attendance at the institution whose conduct the borrower is asserting could give rise to a discharge. As long as a borrower has an outstanding loan, they still face the possibility of delinquency, default, and the negative outcomes associated with those statuses, as well as the cost of making their monthly loan payments.

This position makes BD discharges consistent with all the other discharge opportunities available in the Direct Loan Program, such as closed school discharges, total and permanent disability discharges, and false certification discharges.

The Department reiterates the points raised in the NPRM regarding the operational challenges of administering a limitations period that varies by State or that requires a determination of when the borrower knew or could credibly have known about the act or omission. With regard to the proposed bright-line standard of 3 years, this would still create operational difficulties because the starting point for a limitations period would still vary based on when the borrower left the school. The Department is also concerned that many of the schools against which it has approved BD claims to date have kept poor records. Poor record-keeping raises the risk that the limitations period—and ultimately the correct refund amount—would be improperly calculated due to mistakes by the school that cannot be corrected. This is not a speculative concern but is grounded in the Department's experience processing BD discharges. For example, the Department discovered while processing eligibility for discharges for former students at Marinello Schools of Beauty that the enrollment periods reported by the school and the periods covered by loans did not always line up. The Department also has found that some schools do not accurately report the correct Office of Postsecondary Education Identifier (OPEID) for locations that their students attended, which raises the risk of applying the limitations period incorrectly. For example, Corinthian Colleges often reported students going to campuses other than those they actually attended, which makes it difficult to accurately apply a limitations period. This is an important consideration because the Department's initial findings around falsified job placement rates at Corinthian covered different periods by the campus. Inaccurate reporting by campus then risks that a borrower's BD claim is subject to one limitations period when in fact they should be subject to a different one. Similarly, inaccurate recordkeeping of when a borrower enrolled would also risk marking someone as enrolled earlier than they actually were, potentially making a claim seem like it was filed outside the limitations period when it in fact was not. The risk then is that even a standard that appears to be a bright line on paper may in fact be inconsistently applied. This could result in the Department failing to refund payments to borrowers that it should have, or if it were to adopt a limitations period, refunding payments that in fact occurred outside the limitations period. The Department is also concerned that requiring student loan servicers, which do not have systematic access to BD applications or know when a BD application was actually submitted, to apply differing limitations periods at the borrower level will introduce a high risk of error, especially if loans have transferred among companies leaving records of when exactly payments were received hard to access. For instance, if a servicer has to discharge the loans of 1,000 different borrowers and each borrower has a slightly different limitations period, then they would have to engage in a highly manual process with significant possibility of applying the wrong limitations period.

The concerns raised by institutions about the staleness of evidence, record retention requirements, lack of finality, and related issues are addressed in several ways. First, the burden is to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the act or omission meets the standard to approve a BD claim. The commenters do not consider how the passage of time would also affect the evidence that could be available in favor of the claim. Second, the Department has included a separate limitations period for the recoupment of costs associated with approved discharges from institutions. As noted already, claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023, will be adjudicated under this rule, the Department will not seek to recoup the cost of discharges on approved claims that are outside that limitations period. Nor, as noted elsewhere in this final rule, would institutions be subject to recoupment for conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 2023, unless such conduct was separately covered under the regulations for recoupment in effect at that time.

The Department does not want to create a situation in which a borrower is still obligated to repay a loan on which the Department has concluded that the borrower should have received a discharge due to the institution's misconduct solely because the individual did not fill out an application in time.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters said that State law claims should be subject to relevant State statutes of limitations.

Discussion: We disagree. As we explain elsewhere in this document, we believe that that there should be no statutes of limitation for filing a BD claim so long as the borrower still has outstanding loans related to attendance at the institution whose conduct the borrower is asserting should give rise to a discharge. This includes acts or omissions that would give rise to a cause of action against the school under applicable State law. We find it necessary to codify this position in the regulatory language in § 685.401(c) to make clear that there is no limitations period for a claim under the Federal standard or State law standard. The operational considerations outlined in the response about the lack of a limitations period for a Federal standard also apply with regard to State law adjudication. Furthermore, the operational issues would be magnified because the limitations would also vary by the State whose law the Department used for adjudication under a State law standard.

Changes: We have revised § 685.401(c) to state that borrowers who assert a defense to repayment under a State law standard do not have a limitations period for filing a claim. A borrower with a loan disbursed prior to July 1, 2017, may assert, at any time through the reconsideration process, a defense to repayment under a State law standard of all amounts owed to the Secretary.

Exclusions

Comments: Commenters expressed differing views on the conduct that should be excluded from consideration as grounds for a BD claim as outlined in § 685.401(d). A few commenters expressed support for the Department's position that an institution's violation of an eligibility or compliance requirement in the HEA or its implementing regulations would not alone give rise to a BD claim. They, however, asked the Department to delete the phrase “unless the violation would otherwise constitute a basis for a borrower defense under this subpart,” deeming it unnecessary.

Other commenters argued that the Department should explicitly state it is not excluding violations of civil rights laws that relate to the making of a Federal student loan for enrollment at the school or the provision of educational services. They pointed to ongoing litigation in cases that involve the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and noted that judgments on those grounds would give borrowers a defense under the Master Promissory Note.

Discussion: The Department appreciates the commenters' ideas but believes that additional changes are not necessary. With respect to deleting the clause in § 685.401(d), the Department believes this language is a helpful reminder that were these violations to be part of another ground for a BD claim, such as a misrepresentation, they could be included.

We disagree with the request to include civil rights laws more explicitly as grounds for a BD claim. Both cases cited by the commenters involve allegations of misrepresentations, which are already a component of the proposed Federal standard. Moreover, the Department's Office for Civil Rights has existing statutory authority to address civil rights violations.

Changes: None.

Borrower Defense to Repayment—Adjudication (§§ Part 685, Subpart D)

Group Process and Group Timelines

Comments: A few commenters stated that the HEA does not permit the Department to proactively certify a group of borrowers and initiate a proceeding without any BD claim filed or any showing that a borrower relied upon or was harmed by some act or omission of the institution. These commenters cited the recent Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, which stated that “[a]gencies have only those powers given to them by Congress, and ‘enabling legislation’ is generally not an ‘open book to which the agency [may] add pages and change the plot line.’” The commenters rationalized that since Congress did not explicitly include a group process in the borrower defense provision in the HEA, then the Department should not be making radical and fundamental changes to the BD scheme, including initiating a group process. These commenters argued that the Department should remove the language permitting group claims.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters' assertion that the proposed group process violates the HEA. The Department similarly rejected this argument in 2016. The Department's statutory authority to enact BD regulations is derived from Sec. 455(h) of the HEA, 20 U.S.C. 1087e(h), which states that “the Secretary shall specify in regulations which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a defense to repayment of a loan. . .” While the language of the statute refers to a borrower in the singular, it is a common default rule of statutory interpretation that a term includes both the singular and the plural, absent a contrary indication in the statute. We believe that, in giving the Secretary the discretion to “specify which acts or omissions” may be asserted as a defense to repayment of loan, Congress also gave the Department the authority to determine subordinate questions of procedure, such as what acts or omissions alleged by borrowers meet the Department's requirements, how such claims by borrowers should be determined, and whether such claims should be heard contemporaneously as a group or successively, as well as other procedural issues.

Congress clearly contemplated group discharges for BD claims. Section 703 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. Law 116-260) amended the HEA to restore Federal Pell Grant eligibility during a period for which a student received a loan, and that loan is discharged “due to the student's successful assertion of a defense to repayment of the loan, including defenses provided to any applicable groups of students.” Clearly, Congress envisioned a group BD process, including a group discharge process.

The Supreme Court's holding in West Virginia does not implicate the Department's inclusion of the group process to adjudicate BD claims. In West Virginia, the Supreme Court invalidated one aspect of the EPA's Clean Power Plan because the Court concluded the rule reflected a new and unprecedented change in how emissions would be measured, which would amount to a “wholesale restructuring” of the energy sector with little statutory language justifying the authority to do so. There is no such issue here. BD claims invoke a defense to repayment that Congress created and that the Department clearly has the discretion to define and operationalize. That legislatively created defense will exist irrespective of Department regulations, as will the hundreds of thousands of BD applications that we have received in recent years. That is categorically different than the EPA rule that the Supreme Court considered in West Virginia. Finally, a process to consider certain claims in groups has existed since 2016 and was confirmed by Congress in the 2021 amendments mentioned above.

As noted earlier in this document, the general provisions granted to the Secretary in GEPA and the Department's organic act, along with the provisions in the HEA, authorize the Department to promulgate regulations that govern defense to repayment standards, including the initiation of a group process. And as we stated in 2016, and we reiterate again, in addition to giving the Secretary the discretion to “specify which acts or omissions” may be asserted as a defense to repayment of loan, Congress also gave the Department the authority to determine such subordinate questions of procedure, such as the scope of what acts or omissions alleged by borrowers meet the Department's requirements, how such claims by borrowers should be determined, and whether such claims should be heard contemporaneously as a group or successively, as well as other procedural issues.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters supported the Department reinstituting the group process for BD claims. A few commenters stated that requiring States to submit an additional request for consideration of group discharge applications under a State law standard is unnecessary and duplicative.

Discussion: The Department thanks the commenters for their support for the group process. The Department discusses the State law standard elsewhere in this document.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters argued that the Department could not form a group claim because claims must have individual showings of harm or reliance in order to be approved. Some argued that the Department could only form a group claim in limited circumstances in which the acts or omissions in question did not require individualized proof.

Discussion: As discussed in the NPRM as well as in this final rule, the Department disagrees that borrowers have to show individualized harm or reliance. There is nothing in the law that requires the Department to only process discharge claims on an individual borrower basis. The Department has in the past adjudicated group discharge claims where large numbers of borrowers were in the same situation. A group approach is more efficient for the Department and saves resources. Borrower defense claims are particularly appropriate for a group claim process since, in many cases, the error or omission of the institution is likely to have affected more than a single borrower and it would be inefficient for the Department to adjudicate large numbers of individual claims relying on the same facts and circumstances on a one-by-one basis.

Changes: None.

Commenters: A few commenters wrote in opposing the group claim on the grounds that the process lacked impartiality. They said the group process should require an ALJ or some other kind of neutral party. They argued that having the Department decide on whether to form the group and whether to approve it put in the role of both plaintiff's counsel and judge.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters. Just like individual adjudications, the group process is a method for the Department to decide whether to discharge outstanding loan obligations owed by borrowers. The institution is not a direct party in that consideration. If the Department attempts to recoup the amount of approved discharges resolved through a group process, the institution would have a full and fair opportunity to challenge the liability before an independent hearing official. This is different approach from that adopted in the 2016 regulation in which the group claim was resolved in the same procedure as the determination of the institution's liability. In that process, the involvement of the hearing official made sense because the school's liability was directly implicated. The separation of approval from recoupment thus addresses the concerns about impartiality raised by institutions.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters stated that the Department's group process proposal fails to specify adequate criteria for when a group process is appropriate. One of these commenters argued that criteria like commons facts and evidence was merely a threshold consideration and concerns like promoting compliance was vague and not a sufficient rationale for forming the group.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters. The factors laid out in § 685.402(a) represent a sensible list of considerations that establish the use groups in situations in which acts or omissions were sufficiently widespread to affect a definable group of borrowers. While the commenter dismisses the concept of common facts or evidence, this is an important starting point. When facts, evidence, and legal issues are unlikely to apply group-wide, then the claims should be adjudicated individually. Similarly, the consideration of acts or omissions that are pervasive or widely disseminated adds further supports making group-wide determinations. Such cases are well suited for group treatment, which makes more sense than repeating substantially similar determinations in a series of individual adjudications. The list of factors thus represent items that speak to the core purpose of a group adjudication.

We similarly disagree about the lack of clarity for group claims based upon third-party requests. We specify in § 685.402(c) the criteria for when a third-party requestor may request the Secretary to form a group, and the documentation that must be submitted with such a request, including information about the group; evidence beyond sworn borrower statements that supports each element of the claim; and identifying information about the affected borrowers to the extent that information is available. While we customarily do not prescribe such granular details in regulations, we listed the application criteria in this instance, so requestors know exactly what to submit and the Department official knows what to consider in evaluating the appropriateness of forming a group.

In response to the commenters' concerns, and to provide interested parties with even more detail, the Department has revised the requirement that a third-party requestor must provide evidence beyond sworn borrower statements that supports each element of the claim, to specify that such evidence must include, but is not limited to, evidence demonstrating that the conduct is pervasive or widely disseminated. While we do not prescribe what would constitute evidence beyond sworn borrower statements for the purposes of forming a group under this paragraph, we believe that this further clarification will provide requestors guidance while allowing the Department official to assess each group request on a case-by-case basis. The Secretary retains the authority and reserves the right to request other information or supporting documentation from the third-party requestor.

Changes: We revised § 685.402(c)(1) to reflect that a third-party requestor must provide evidence beyond sworn borrower statements that supports each element of the claim made in the application, including but not limited to, evidence demonstrating that the conduct is pervasive or widely disseminated.

Comments: A few commenters requested that institutions be allowed to review a State requestor's request to the Secretary to form a group under § 685.402(c). Other commenters raised concerns that institutions would not receive copies of decisions related to group claim requests from State requestors.

Discussion: As we note above, we are including a new definition of third-party requestors to include State requestors and legal assistance organizations. We agree that providing the institution an opportunity to review a third-party requestor's request to the Secretary would be valuable before determining whether to form a group. This will provide the Secretary adequate information to better determine whether a group should be formed, and if so, the proper definition of the group. After the institution is apprised of the third-party requestor's request to form a group, the institution will have 90 days to respond. Institutions will still be afforded the opportunity to respond to the Department official on any group after it is formed in accordance with § 685.405. Institutions will also be given a copy of the decision on whether to form a group under § 685.402(c).

Affording this additional opportunity for institutional response to a group formation, as well as the changes discussed earlier to allow legal assistance organizations to request consideration of a group claim means the initial review of group requests will take longer prior to issuing a decision on whether to form the group. The Department anticipates that the number of group requests will increase. Because of this new opportunity, the Department will adjust the deadline by which the Department will respond to both the third-party requestor and the institution under § 685.402(c) to within 2 years of receipt of a materially complete group request. This is an increase from the 1-year timeline in the NPRM. The Department extended this timeline because the inclusion of third-party requestors from the legal assistance community means the possible number of requests for considering a group claim could be substantially higher than anticipated in the NPRM. The inclusion of an additional institutional response period in the group also increases the amount of time needed to decide whether to form a group. Thus, it would not be realistic to conduct a longer review on what could be more group claim requests within the time period specified in the NPRM. However, by getting additional information earlier in the group process, the Department will shorten the time to render a final decision on the group claim to 1 year following the formation of a group instead of the 2 years in the NPRM. 87 FR at 42008. The result is the same overall timeline of 3 years, with the breakdown adjusted to better reflect the different evidence-gathering stages.

Second, we will remove the set time limit for the Department to respond to requests for reconsideration around the formation of a group by a third-party requestor from the 90 days proposed in the NPRM. In looking further at the extent of information provided under previous requests for group claims and the number of potential additional group claim consideration requests it might receive, the Department is concerned that it will not be feasible to fully consider all the evidence that may be received in a reconsideration request within 90 days, especially while still balancing other pending requests. Accordingly, we have adjusted § 685.402(c)(6) to remove the 90-day response deadline. Instead, the Department will provide responses to the third-party requestor and institution after making a decision on the reconsideration request. This approach also mirrors the treatment of reconsideration decisions elsewhere in the regulation, which do not contain timelines for rendering a decision.

The Department has also revised the regulations to provide that institutions will receive copies of all decisions that are given to third-party requestors.

Changes: We have added language in § 685.402(c) to provide that the Secretary will notify the institution of the third-party requestor's application that the Secretary form a group for BD discharge consideration. The institution will have 90 days to respond to the Secretary regarding the third-party requestor's application. We are also revising § 685.402(c) to clarify that the Secretary will respond to the third-party requestor and the institution within 2 years of the receipt of a materially complete group request from the third-party requestor. We are also revising § 685.402(c) to clarify that the Secretary will also provide a response to both the third-party requestor and the institution of a reconsideration request from the third-party requestor to form a group. We are revising § 685.402(c)(6) to note that the Secretary will provide a response on the reconsideration request when a decision is reached by the Secretary. Finally, we revised the time frame for adjudicating a group claim in § 685.406(g) to within 1 year of the date the Department official notified the third-party requestor under § 685.402(c)(4).

Comments: A few commenters asked the Department to remove the requirement that the third-party requestor must submit evidence beyond sworn borrower statements for group claim requests.

Discussion: The Department declines to make the requested change. The third-party requestor process is valuable because it creates a formal mechanism for the Department to receive evidence that will help it decide whether to form a group claim. Sworn borrower statements are important, but to date the Department has found that the most useful third-party evidence also include evidence of an institution's internal policies, procedures, or training materials, data used to calculate job placement rates, marketing materials, and other similar types of evidence. This does not preclude a third-party requestor from also attaching borrower statements but setting a higher evidentiary bar for considering a group claim request ensures the Department receives strong applications.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters argued that the Department should not be able to form a group that encompasses borrowers from a given State if that State did not request it. They stated that allowing States to request consideration of group claims implies that if they do not ask for a group claim the Department should not consider one.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenter. The ability of States to request group claim consideration provides a mechanism for sharing evidence and information that may assist the Department. There may be many reasons why the Department chooses to form a group when a State does not request it. The Department may have evidence in its possession the State does not possess, or the Department could find a violation under the Federal standard that would not be a violation under a given State's law. The State request process thus complements, rather than precludes the Department's work.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters claimed the Department is using the group process to simply get around limitations on its own oversight and investigatory authorities.

Discussion: The Department disagrees. The Department already has a robust ability to request information from the institutions it oversees. The rule also provides processes for the Secretary to initiate group claims at his own discretion. The third-party requestor process simply creates a formal way for the Department to receive additional evidence that will ensure it is making thorough, reasoned, and evidence-based decisions on the claims it receives. Obtaining evidence in this manner will make the adjudication process more efficient. This group process will not replace other oversight work. There is no requirement that the Department attempt or conduct an investigation of an institution before considering a group claim request and so it is possible the Department will receive evidence related to institutions it was not previously reviewing or concerned about.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters argued that borrowers should have the ability to opt out of a group. They likened this to provisions that allow individuals to opt out of class action lawsuit, saying the Department cannot bind absent class members. Other commenters argued that any group should require borrowers to opt in.

Discussion: Being considered part of a group claim is not the same as class action litigation. For one, if the group claim is denied, the borrower would maintain the ability to file an individual claim. However, the Department recognizes that there could be situations in which a borrower may not want to want to accept the forbearance that comes with the formation of a group or may want to decline a discharge associated with an approved group claim for some reason. Accordingly, borrowers will have an opportunity to opt out of the forbearance as well as a discharge if a group is approved. Borrowers may opt out of forbearance as provided in § 685.403(d)(1) or § 685.403(e)(4) in the case of enforced collections. The Department also disagrees with the proposal to make borrowers opt into any group. One of the Department's concerns in providing a group process is ensuring that borrowers who experienced detriment that warrants relief as a result of the institution's act or omission should receive a loan discharge regardless of whether they file an application. This is consistent with other changes being made to the regulations to remove barriers for borrowers in areas such as providing for automatic closed school discharges. Adding an opt in requirement would add administrative burden and increase the likelihood that borrowers who are eligible for relief miss out on it. Moreover, an opt in process would further burden the Department without any corresponding benefit to the process.

Changes: We are adding § 685.408(b) to state that members of a group that received a written notice of an approved borrower defense claim in accordance with § 685.406(f)(1) may request to opt out of the discharge for the group.

Comments: A few commenters objected to language about forming groups that covered multiple schools at once, challenging how the Department could find commonality in such a situation.

Discussion: The Department does not contemplate the formation of group claims that could cover institutions that share no common ownership. Rather, it is possible that the Department may end up forming a group claim that could cover some or all of the institutions within the same ownership group. The Department has seen instances where the company that owns multiple institutional brands exerts significant centralized control such that all institutions it owns use the same recruitment tactics or methods for calculating job placement rates. Whether a group claim covers some or all of the institutions under common ownership would depend on the underlying evidence.

Changes: None.

Forms of Evidence

Comments: Several commenters argued that the applications submitted by borrowers should be made under penalty of perjury, given that the Department is proposing to use that requirement for the response from institutions. Commenters also noted that such a requirement is important to ensure that institutions are not being held to a higher standard than students. Similarly, commenters also asked that the application made by State requestors be signed under penalty of perjury. A few commenters also proposed that State requestors be required to indemnify institutions for damages, including the costs of defending and investigating the claim, and that State requestors waive sovereign immunity to deter any errors in a group request. The commenter suggested these changes to deter the use of group processes to influence potential settlement negotiations between a State and an institution.

Discussion: As we note above, we are including a new definition of third-party requestors to include State requestors and legal assistance organizations. The Department agrees with commenters that the application from the borrower and the response from the institution be made under penalty of perjury. In fact, the existing BD application already contains this requirement. Accordingly, we are updating the regulatory text to reflect this current practice. Similarly, we will adopt a requirement that group requests submitted by third parties be signed under penalty of perjury. This will also apply to reconsideration requests.

We do not believe it would be appropriate to add the other requirements for third-party requestors as requested by commenters. The group request is a mechanism for a third-party requestor to share information with the Department, which evaluates what it receives and makes its own decision about whether to form a group. Adding the requirement that parties make submissions under the penalty of perjury sufficiently ensures the information shared under that practice is truthful and accurate and ensures that every external party providing information to the Department is held to the same standard.

Changes: We have updated §§ 685.403(b)(1)(i) and 685.402(c)(1) to indicate that applications from individuals and requests to consider a group from a third-party requestor be made under penalty of perjury. We have revised § 685.407(a)(4) to require individual claimants and third-party requestors who request reconsideration submit their request under penalty of perjury.

Comments: A few commenters requested the Department clarify that a sworn borrower statement alone would be sufficient evidence to approve a BD claim.

Discussion: As noted in § 685.401(b), approving a BD claim requires meeting a preponderance of the evidence standard. Whether a given claim meets that standard will require an assessment of all evidence in the Department's possession. This includes evidence from the sworn borrower statement, the institutional response, and anything else in the Department's possession. Because sworn borrower statements are themselves evidence, there are situations where the evidence supporting the approval of a borrower's claim could come solely from the application submitted by the borrower. But identifying the circumstances in which that occurs can only be determined on a case-by-case basis based upon a review of the specific evidence at hand. Given that the Department already spells out the process for considering evidence and the standards involved, there is no need for additional changes.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters requested the Department confirm that, when the only evidence we possess is sworn statements from the borrower and the institution, we clarify that both those statements be given equal weight. The commenters also asked the Department to clarify how it verifies that the information provided by borrowers under a sworn statement is in fact accurate. They pointed to purported instances where institutions notified the Department of inaccuracies in a borrower statement and stated they were unclear if the borrower had addressed those concerns in the Department's adjudication process.

Discussion: As stated in the Federal standard for BD in § 685.401(b), approving a claim requires a determination based upon a preponderance of the evidence. That means when the Department only has sworn statements from both sides, it must determine whether the statement from the borrower, weighed and considered against the opposing statement, makes it more likely than not that facts exist sufficient to establish all essential elements. This requires a case-specific assessment of the evidence received. The Department also has the ability to request additional information from either the borrower or institution as needed. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to conclude that the sheer presence of only having a sworn statement by each party inherently means that both are equal. Such a determination cannot occur without an actual review of the statements.

Changes: None.

Institutional Response Process

Comments: A few commenters stated that 90 days is insufficient for an institution to respond to a borrower's BD application or a group BD claim. A few commenters requested at least 180 days to respond to a group claim.

Discussion: We disagree. As we explained in the NPRM, we used the program review process to inform our proposal in § 685.405 to give institutions adequate time to respond. The program review process mirrors some of the same BD processes, and where appropriate, we maintained similar procedures. In this case, we believe 90 days is a sufficient time for an institution to respond, and it is already twice as generous as the response time afforded to a school during a program review.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter stated that as the regulations are written, there is nothing to guarantee a 90-day period for the institution to respond to a BD claim and suggested that the Department could impose a more abbreviated time frame at the Department's discretion.

Discussion: The Department is clarifying that institutions will have 90 days to respond to a BD claim. Although we explicitly stated that institutions would receive 90 days to respond, including our rationale for doing so, we are convinced that we need slight modifications in the regulatory text.

Changes: We revised § 685.405(b)(2) to state that the Department official requests a response from the institution which will have 90 days to respond from the date of the Department official's notification.

Process Based on Prior Secretarial Actions

Comments: A few commenters expressed support for the inclusion of approving BD claims tied to final Secretarial actions. Other commenters expressed opposition to the proposal to approve BD claims for borrowers based upon prior Secretarial actions. They argued that the proposed text did not specify the acts or omissions that would give rise to an approved BD claim. Other commenters requested greater specificity as to the types of prior actions that would be covered by this section and were concerned that some topics mentioned, such as administrative capability, were quite broad.

Commenters also argued that tying other Secretarial actions to BD claims could result in more lawsuits on those actions rather than settlements since it would be more worthwhile for an institution to challenge those actions. Conversely, other commenters argued that approvals tied to prior Secretarial actions could encourage too many settlements so that institutions could avoid the threat of a group claim. Commenters also raised concerns about the lack of due process procedures for claims under this process.

Discussion: We appreciate the support from commenters in favor of including BD claim approvals tied to final Secretarial actions. We believe the commenters opposed to this treatment of final Secretarial actions misconstrued our position in suggesting that that we did not specify the acts or omissions that could give rise to an approved BD claim. As we stated in the NPRM, § 685.404 establishes a process by which we could consider prior Secretarial actions in the context of forming and approving group BD claims. We outline the acts or omissions that could give rise to a borrower defense to repayment in § 685.401.

The Department appreciates the questions from commenters about exactly what types of final actions fall under this process. We updated the Federal standard in § 685.401(b)(5)(ii) to create an exhaustive list of the types of actions that fall under this standard. Those are actions taken under part 668, subpart G, action to deny the institution's application for recertification, or revoke the institution's provisional program participation agreement under § 668.13, if the institution's acts or omissions tied to those final actions could give rise to a BD claim under § 685.401(b)(1) (substantial misrepresentation), (b)(2) (substantial omission of fact), (b)(3) (breach of contract), or (b)(4) (aggressive recruitment). We provided a longer discussion of why we are making this change in the Definitions section of responses to comments. However, we note that those listed actions are the most serious actions that the Department can take against an institution. All also provide ample due process before they are final. When the Department initiates an action under part 668, subpart G the institution can request a hearing before an independent hearing officer, and the proceedings vary depending on if the proposed action is a suspension, fine, emergency action, or a limitation or termination action. But every action includes the opportunity for the institution to present evidence, as well as the possibility of in-person or written testimony by fact or expert witnesses. The hearing officer's decision may be appealed to the Secretary. And, since employing those actions for a BD claim requires them to be related to conditions that could give rise to an approved claim due to misrepresentation, omission of fact, or aggressive and deceptive recruitment, the addition of another institutional response process would repeat an opportunity to rebut the Department's arguments.

Because we have moved the definition of what actions would fall under this process to § 685.401(b)(5)(ii), we have removed the additional clarifications that were in paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of § 685.404.

Changes: We have updated the definition of a final Secretarial action in § 685.401(b)(5)(ii) to limit this provision to actions under part 668, subpart G, to action denying the institution's application for recertification, or revoking the institution's provisional program participation agreement under § 668.13, based on the institution's acts or omissions that could give rise to a BD claim under paragraphs § 685.401(b)(1) through (4). We removed paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of § 685.404 and the actions that fall under this category are now listed in § 685.401(b)(5)(ii).

Comments: Commenters suggested that only Secretarial final actions initiated, finalized, and resolved after the effective date of these regulations should be subject to being employed as a basis to initiate a group process under § 685.404.

Discussion: We disagree with these commenters with respect to the approval of BD claims filed by borrowers but agree with the commenters regarding recoupment actions against institutions. The purpose of including a process based on Secretarial actions was to codify a process that better integrates the Department's oversight and compliance work with the adjudication of a BD claim. Doing so minimizes the duplication of work, as institutions would have already had multiple opportunities to respond to similar sets of findings in final actions that could give rise to a defense to repayment claim. In short, it streamlines the process to form groups for the purpose of adjudication. As these regulations bifurcate the adjudication and recovery processes, the recoupment of amounts discharged is conducted in a separate proceeding independent of the Secretarial final action described here. Additionally, because there is no time frame for a borrower to submit a claim, it would not be prudent to restrict final Secretarial actions for purposes of forming groups on or after the effective date of these regulations.

As we explain elsewhere in this document, the Department will not attach any new liability for institutions to actions or transactions that were permissible when the events occurred. Thus, the formation of groups under § 685.404 exists independent of any recovery action that the Secretary could take after discharging a loan. To allay institutions' concerns, the Department codified in § 685.409 that we will only initiate recovery proceedings for loans first disbursed after the effective date of regulations if we would not separately approve claims and initiate recovery under the relevant regulation in effect at the time.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter stated that the Department does not explain why an institution's loss of eligibility due to its cohort default rate (CDR) should result in an approved BD claim.

Discussion: After further review, we concur with the commenter. While failing to meet the cohort default rate standards for continued participation in the Direct Loan Program is concerning, there is not an immediate connection between that occurrence and the types of acts and omissions that would give rise to a borrower defense claim. As such, we do not think it would be appropriate to draw such a connection. If an institution's high default rates were attributable to misrepresentations, omissions, or other actions that would be better captured by the Department's separate review of relevant evidence, then that evidence, not the cohort default rate, would be the grounds for considering a BD claim.

Changes: We removed an institution's loss of eligibility due to its CDR as a final action that the Department official may consider when forming a group in § 685.404.

Record Retention

Comments: Many commenters stated that institutions cannot be expected to, and do not, maintain the range of records required to defend a claim in perpetuity. These commenters also cite guidance from the Department and other Federal and State agencies to destroy data when they are no longer needed in the interests of data security, observing that, the longer data is retained, the more likely it is to be breached.

Thus, a few commenters proposed a 3-year limitations period for a borrower to bring a claim which would align to the general record retention period that institutions must adhere to regarding title IV records. A few commenters also disagreed with the Department's statement in the NPRM that the financial aid records subject to the 3-year records retention requirement were less likely to be relevant in adjudicating a claim than other records.

Discussion: The Department acknowledges the importance of records management, including the proper disposition of records when they are no longer needed and the appropriate transfer of such records for preservation. As we stated in the NPRM, the Department does not contemplate new record retention requirements. It is unlikely that the records subject to the general 3-year record retention period in § 668.24 would be the most relevant records in question to adjudicate the BD claim. To date, most approved borrower defense claims have centered on evidence related to recruitment and admission practices, advertising campaigns, brochures, and handbooks. Specific student financial aid records have not been nearly as critical. However, if institutions are concerned about their ability to defend themselves from a BD claim, there is no prohibition on retaining records longer than the 3-year period. As we stated in 1996, which remains true now, records may always be retained longer than required by regulation. Proper management of records to ensure data security and protecting institutions against claims and liabilities need not be mutually exclusive, and the Department believes institutions can accomplish these goals simultaneously.

We explain our rationale for not imposing a limitations period for a borrower to file a BD claim elsewhere in this document under the “ Limitations Period” section.

Changes: None.

Borrower Status During Adjudication/Forbearance/Stopped Enforced Collections

Comments: Several commenters expressed concerns related to pending or undecided BD claims and stated borrowers should not have to choose between submitting claims and ballooning debt. These commenters suggested stopping interest accrual on individually submitted BD claims immediately instead of 180 days after the date of submission.

Discussion: As we explained in the NPRM, under current practice, we cease interest accrual once a claim has been pending for 1 year. In § 685.403, we reduce that time frame to 180 days. The Department reiterates its view that allowing interest to accumulate for some period is an important measure to encourage borrowers to submit the strongest application they can since a borrower would risk several months of interest accumulation. For a borrower whose claim is ultimately approved, the accumulation of interest during this 180-day period is moot since it would be discharged anyway. Thus, the effect of the interest accumulation, which has been significantly reduced, will only be felt by a borrower whose claim is denied. Moreover, the Department notes that the elimination of interest capitalization when not required by statute will also mean that the borrower will not have this unpaid interest added to their principal balance. Allowing interest to accumulate for 180 days thus strikes a balance between giving a borrower a strong financial incentive to file the strongest possible claim, without making the financial risk of having a claim denied so great that a borrower would be dissuaded from applying if they do have a strong claim.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter stated that the Department should not grant forbearance (or stop collections) on a borrower's FFEL loans while the Department adjudicates a BD claim. They recommended that the applicable section and reference on granting forbearance or stopping collections refer only to Direct Loans and not title IV loans generally.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenter and declines to incorporate their recommendation. As explained in the NPRM, see 87 FR at 41903, the Department is concerned that stopping collections on some loans but not others would be confusing for borrowers. By placing all of a borrower's loans in forbearance or stopped collection status, the Department would be able to automate the adjudication process more easily. Section 682.211(i)(7), for example, already requires FFEL lenders to put a FFEL borrower in forbearance upon notification from the Secretary while the Department official adjudicates the BD claim. Placing all of a borrower's loans into a forbearance (or stopped collections status in the case of a defaulted loan) gives these borrowers parity across all of their title IV loans and minimizes confusion. Non-Direct Loans could be consolidated into a Direct Loan, which could be discharged after a successful defense to repayment claim. Were the Department to limit forbearance or stopped enforced collections only to Direct Loans, borrowers could be harmed by continuing loan payments, continuing to accrue interest, or facing enforced collections while their BD claims are adjudicated.

Changes: None.

Timelines To Adjudicate

Comments: Many commenters supported our proposal to include definitive timelines to adjudicate a BD claim. However, some of these commenters suggested that 3 years is too long for a borrower to wait for a decision and suggested 1 year as a more appropriate time frame. Yet another set of commenters suggested that the adjudication clock should begin from the time the Department receives an application.

Other commenters believed that the timeline to adjudicate is concerning as institutions do not have control over the timeline the Department may choose to process a claim. These commenters stated that deeming loans unenforceable after a certain time frame is a misuse of tax dollars and wasteful. One commenter argued that the timelines to decide on a claim would encourage all borrowers to file a claim in the hopes of overwhelming the Department. Similarly, another commenter pointed to program reviews that have taken as long as 5 years as evidence that the Department would not be able to decide claims within 3 years.

Discussion: We thank the commenters for their support and reiterate our goal of giving borrowers decisions in a timely fashion. As the Department has observed in its analysis of BD applications, many borrowers waited many years to have decisions rendered on their BD claims. With the timelines in these regulations, the Department commits to continue its work to process and approve or deny claims.

While a few commenters believe 3 years is too long for a borrower to wait for a claim to be decided (in the case of an individual claimant), we reiterate that a thorough review of a claim cannot be achieved in a few weeks; we also reject the proposal to reduce the time to adjudicate claims to 1 year. The BD process requires many administrative steps, including identifying borrowers in the case of a group; collecting information pertinent to the claim; providing the institution an opportunity to respond; placing the borrower's loans in the appropriate status; reviewing what can be an extensive evidentiary record; making a recommendation to the Secretary; and issuing a decision. To mitigate risk of financial harm to borrowers who filed a claim, the Department will place all of a borrower's loans in forbearance or cease mandatory enforcement collections, with interest accrual ceasing either immediately (in the case of a group claim) or after 180 days from the date the borrower was placed in forbearance or stopped enforced collections. The Department also added a provision in § 685.406(g)(5) that after the timelines expire, the loans covered by the claims that do not yet have a decision would be unenforceable. Collectively, these guardrails provide adequate protection to the borrower while giving the Department time to thoroughly adjudicate the claim.

With regard to the commenters who expressed concerns about the Department not being able to handle the number of possible claims, we believe the changes made to a materially complete application will address this concern. While not erecting major barriers, this requirement will ensure that borrowers provide sufficient details about the institution's acts or omissions such that there will be a baseline level of quality in applications that go through the full adjudication process and that those applications contain the details needed to fairly adjudicate them. The goal of ensuring applications contain sufficient information for adjudication is reflected in existing regulations permitting the Department to seek further details from the borrower; the provisions on materially complete applications give more affirmative guidance to applicants on the level of detail that an application should include.

In this context, the Department recognizes that the interaction of the materially complete application provision and regulation's July 1, 2023 effective date for then-pending applications could cause confusion surrounding the timeline for a borrower to receive a decision. To address this concern, we have clarified that the timeline for a decision on an individual application will be the later of July 1, 2026 or 3 years from the date the Department determines the borrower submitted a materially complete application. For applications that are pending on July 1, 2023, and that are not materially complete—that is, applications that lack sufficient information to adjudicate the claim—the Department will contact the applicant with an explanation of the details needed to make out a materially complete application. This, however, is not a novel requirement or a departure from existing standards. The material-completeness threshold merely sets forth clearer guidance on the details needed to facilitate continued adjudication. Indeed, under existing regulations, applications that lack such details would prompt a request for further information or have a higher likelihood of a denial.

With respect to the commenter who suggested that the timeline should begin upon receipt of an application, we decline to adopt this proposal. Determining that an application is materially complete ensures the Department has the information it needs to fully review a claim under the Federal standard. An incomplete application may be missing key details that must be received to continue the process. Having the Department bind itself with deadlines for review of claims thus makes the most sense to start from when the borrower has given us enough information to start other parts of the adjudication process, such as the institutional response.

We understand that commenters are concerned about timelines over which institutions may feel they have no control. When crafting these timelines, however, we considered the institution's stake in the lifecycle of a BD claim and have made adjustments described elsewhere in this document to accommodate institutional concerns. We believe that the timelines in these regulations provide all parties concerned an opportunity to be heard in the BD adjudication process.

Finally, while we acknowledge concerns from commenters that deeming loans unenforceable if the Department is unable to meet prescribed timelines may result in a cost to the taxpayer that cannot be recouped, the Department's goal is to ensure claims are adjudicated within the prescribed timelines and thus no costs are ultimately incurred from these deadlines.

Changes: We have adjusted § 685.406(g)(1)(ii) to note that the timeline for a decision on an individual application is the later of July 1, 2026 or 3 years after the Department determines that the borrower submitted a materially complete application.

Comments: Commenters noted that the regulations lacked clarity on what it means for a loan to be unenforceable. Other commenters expressed concern that institutions could be subject to a recoupment action on loans deemed unenforceable without any due process protections. Some other commenters expressed concerns that an unenforceable loan would not receive all the benefits of a discharge, such as updating credit bureau reporting and restoring federal student aid eligibility for borrowers in default. They also recommend clarifying the treatment of loans not covered by the BD claim.

Discussion: The Department is clarifying the steps it will take after a loan is determined to be unenforceable. If the Department fails to meet the adjudication timelines in § 685.406, any loans covered by the BD claim will be considered unenforceable. For consolidation loans, this would mean the portion of the underlying loans in the consolidation loan attributed to the BD claim. The Secretary will not require the borrower to repay the loans covered under the BD application, but it will not be considered an approved BD discharge. Consequently, the Department will not initiate or attempt recovery proceedings against the institution for loans deemed unenforceable under that section.

The commenters are correct that there are some differences between an approved claim and a loan deemed unenforceable, which is another reason why the Department is committed to making decisions on claims before the time limits are reached.

Moreover, as we discuss elsewhere in this document, we would provide copies of the written decision to the institution so the institution will be aware of the status of the claim. We will also commit to giving the institution an interim update as we do for borrowers.

Changes: We have revised § 685.406(g) to provide interim updates to an individual claimant, the third-party requestor under a third-party requested group formation, and the institution contacted for the institutional response, that will report the Secretary's progress in adjudicating the claim and the expected timeline for rendering a decision on the claim. We have added language to § 685.406(g)(5) to clarify that an institution will not be liable for a loan deemed unenforceable against the borrower.

Process To Adjudicate Borrower Defense Claims

Comments: A few commenters acknowledged that the proposed rules made significant improvements to the BD process by including a group process but expressed concern for applications adjudicated in the process for individual claims. These commenters suggested the Department consider other applications raising similar claims when adjudicating individual applications, so that the individual review process would mirror the group claim process; explicitly state that borrower attestations alone may be sufficient to substantiate a claim for relief; and explicitly state that the Department will apply a presumption of reliance when assessing individual applications.

Discussion: Individual borrowers have a full opportunity to file individual BD claims under these regulations. However, as we explained in the NPRM, the Department's recent experience with a significant influx of individual BD applications has convinced the Department that State partners can provide critical information in assessing BD claims. Given this history, the Department believes that the group process, where warranted, provides the most efficient way to resolve claims for all parties--the borrowers, the institutions and the Department. The Department reserves the Secretary's right to form a group, including the ability to consolidate multiple individual applications as provided in § 685.402(b)(3).

The Department already explicitly states in the NPRM that the application itself, including the borrower's sworn statement, is a form of evidence. The Department has not deviated from this position and will consider the application as one of several components in the adjudication of a BD claim. Similarly, although the Department has updated the presumption applied to groups, it has not deviated from its position that, based on supporting factual evidence, it will apply a presumption that actionable acts or omissions affected each member of a group considered collectively. With respect to applying the presumption to individual claims, the updated BD definition and its straightforward causation element address the concerns of comments seeking an individual presumption of reliance to avoid a barrier to relief reflecting mere formalism. That is less of a concern because individual claims will be assessed for whether the facts indicate the alleged acts or omissions caused the borrower detriment, rather than insisting on borrowers pleading specific technical terms. We discuss this topic further in the “ Federal Standard ” section.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters requested that the Department adopt a liberal pleading standard when adjudicating an individual BD claim. In those requests, the commenters refer to pleading standards for pro se litigants in civil courts. The commenters believe that individual BD claimants warrant a similarly liberal standard for their BD applications because their experience and risk of confusion resembles that of pro se litigants in civil court.

Discussion: The Department believes that the improved processes included in these regulations and additional guidance provided to facilitate applications together will provide sufficient direction for borrowers to submit materially complete applications for BD. The Department believes that individual claimants will not need specialized legal expertise or training to file an individual BD claim under these rules. As we state in the NPRM, the BD application and accompanying sworn statements are forms of evidence. Likewise, the details required for an individual application to be materially complete are all comprised of information that is readily available for an individual borrower without the assistance of a legal advocate. The Department official will adjudicate the claim upon receipt of a materially complete application from an individual claimant, along with information from the institution from the institutional response process and records within the Secretary's custody. Under § 685.403(b)(2), the Department can request more information from an individual borrower to materially complete the application, including a request to provide more information on some of the acts or omission that the borrower has alleged when a more robust narrative would give the Department a better understanding of what took place.

While the Department requires a materially complete application from an individual claimant to continue with adjudication, an otherwise complete application does not require legal analysis from the borrower. Although an individual's claim must still meet the same evidentiary standard whether or not represented by counsel, individual adjudications will take into account the institution's response and potentially other information about the institution in the Department's possession, and even if the individual claimant does not capture the act or omission in precise terminology, the Department will make appropriate inferences based on the information available to it. Furthermore, the information available to the Department may include evidence from other sources, such as third-party requestors, investigations or reviews by the Department or other authorities, or other sworn applications. In effect, the Department's process for evaluating and adjudicating an individual claim already provides flexibility that incorporates the same principles motivating pro se pleading standards but is tailored to the BD process. Finally, it would not be appropriate to expressly adopt a standard applied in civil courts, because the requirements for submitting a BD application and the consequences of potential deficiencies differ from those applied under the Federal Civil Rules, State analogues, and various jurisdictions' local rules.

Therefore, we decline to alter the regulations or to expressly adopt a pro se pleading standard applied in civil courts, because the regulations afford sufficient flexibility to address these concerns.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters observed that if the Department official requires additional information to adjudicate a claim, institutions must respond to a request within 90 days, whereas individual claimants must respond within a reasonable time frame. These commenters stated that the Department should not treat institutions and individual claimants differently.

Discussion: After further review, the Department concurs and believes 90 days is a reasonable time frame for an individual claimant to respond to a Department official's request for additional information. The Department believes 90 days is an adequate time for both the institution and the individual claimant to respond to a Department official's request for additional information that maintains parity for all parties.

In its proposal to give institutions 90 days to respond, the Department aligned the maximum time afforded to schools in the program review process. When a borrower files a complaint with the Ombudsman in the FSA Feedback System, the borrower generally must respond within 60 days to the Ombudsman's request for additional information. Responding to such a request is similar to the Department seeking feedback from an individual to resolve a BD claim. Therefore, the Department will give both the institution and the individual claimant the maximum time frame, 90 days in this case, to respond to a request for additional information.

Changes: We revised § 685.406(d) to provide that if the Department official requires additional information from an individual claimant, that individual must respond within 90 days.

Comments: A few commenters requested that the Department require the submission of factual information to refute vague or emotional claims. A few commenters stressed that a borrower's application must contain sufficient explanation so the institution can understand exactly what is being alleged, by whom, and the basis of the claim. Another commenter urged the Department to adopt a plausible basis requirement for claims and specify that pleadings offering formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action would be insufficient. Other commenters noted that the definition of what constitutes a materially complete application was not sufficiently clear. A few commenters also recommended deleting the mention of a materially complete application.

Discussion: The Department shares commenters' desire to provide a process that generates useful information for the Department official to fairly adjudicate a claim. As we state elsewhere in this document and in the NPRM, we recognize that the application itself is a form of evidence. However, the entire record needs to sufficiently and adequately describe the underlying conduct serving as the potential basis for relief to allow the Department official to fully consider the claim.

After further consideration, we believe that BD claims from individual claimants need clearer standards so that such individuals have a clear understanding of what information is needed by the Department prior to adjudication. To that end, the Department will determine an individual's application to be materially complete when the application contains: a description of one or more acts or omissions by the institution; the school or school representative to whom the act or omission is attributed; approximately when the act or omission occurred; how the act or omission impacted the borrower's decision to attend, to continue attending, or to take out the loan for which they are asserting a defense to repayment; and a description of the detriment they suffered as a result of the institution's act or omission. Laying out these concepts will also guide borrowers in creating the strongest claims possible and avoid denial of a valid claim because the borrower did not provide greater detail upfront. We reiterate, as we state elsewhere in this preamble, that an otherwise complete application lacking a legal analysis will not preclude adjudication. However, we believe it is reasonable to require an individual claimant to tell their story so the Department official can adjudicate the claim. By requiring all the aforementioned information, the Department believes it has created a framework that minimizes the likelihood of vague or emotional claims as suggested by the commenters. We also believe that the inclusion of the aforementioned information will be sufficient to allow the institution to understand and respond appropriately to the BD claim. Finally, by identifying the elements of a materially complete application package for an individual claim, we believe we have crafted a process that will result in a sufficient record to adjudicate, and we decline adopting any further requirements that would add unnecessary hurdles for a borrower to assert a defense to repayment.

Changes: We revised § 685.403(b) as described above to provide that the Secretary shall consider an individual BD claim to be materially complete when the borrower submits an application under penalty of perjury with the information enumerated in § 685.403(b).

Decision Letters

Comments: Commenters suggested that the Department should include language specifying that if the Department grants a partial discharge, the Department official must explain in writing the basis for its determination and how it calculated the proposed amount of a discharge. The commenters further suggested borrowers should be given the opportunity to respond and to submit evidence in support of further discharge amounts.

Discussion: Under § 685.406(f), the Department official issues a written decision of the adjudication of the BD claim. The Department believes this commenter's suggestion is no longer relevant because, as discussed below, approved claims will receive a full discharge and not a partial discharge. Nevertheless, the decision letter will contain information about whether the claim was approved, the evidence upon which the decision was based, and the loans that are due and payable to the Secretary in the case of a denial.

We already outline the conditions under which the Department would entertain a reconsideration request by a borrower, which include: administrative or technical errors; consideration under a State law standard for loans first disbursed prior to July 1, 2017; and new evidence that came to light after the initial adjudication. We would expect borrowers to submit the best information they have at the time of application. To the extent that a borrower who receives a denial meets the criteria for reconsideration, that borrower may submit the request and the new evidence.

Changes: None.

Comments: Other commenters suggested the proposed BD regulations do not go far enough regarding decision letters. These commenters suggested the Department strengthen the regulations to make written decisions clear and actionable to borrowers when granting full approvals, partial denials, and full denials.

Discussion: The Department declines to make the changes suggested by the commenters. These regulations will result in decision letters with elements that will help a borrower determine their next steps after adjudication of the claim.

Changes: None.

Comment: Some commenters requested that the Department give copies of the written decision regarding a BD claim to the institution.

Discussion: The Department concurs that institutions should also be apprised of the outcome of the BD claim. Although we initially proposed that copies of the written decision would be made available to the institution to the extent practicable, we are removing the phrase “to the extent practicable” to ensure that the claimant, the institution, and, if applicable, the third-party requestor who requested the group claims process, will receive copies of the written decision.

Changes: We revised § 685.406(f)(3)(iii) to ensure that institutions will receive a copy of the written decision.

Borrower Defense to Repayment—Post Adjudication (§§ Part 685, Subpart D)

Reconsideration Process

Comments: Commenters expressed support for a reconsideration process. Many commenters suggested that institutions should have the opportunity to request reconsideration on the same terms as borrowers. Other commenters opposed a reconsideration process, adding that claims would lack finality and could be continuously granted reconsideration; institutions would, thus, have no way of knowing how often and for how long they may be required to defend against the same BD claim. Similarly, some commenters argued that a reconsideration process violated res judicata and borrowers should not be given another opportunity to have their claim reviewed. A few commenters argued that it would not be appropriate to conduct a reconsideration under a different standard, which is what is contemplated by allowing for considerations under a State law standard. A commenter also expressed concern that asserting a claim under State law would be confusing for borrowers. Other commenters requested that borrowers have an unqualified right to reconsideration.

Discussion: We thank the commenters who expressed support for the reconsideration process.

After careful consideration of the commenters' suggestion that institutions be allowed to request reconsideration, we decline to make this change. We remind institutions of the bifurcated process of the BD framework—adjudicating the claim is a separate and distinct process from the process for recoupment from the institution for the amounts that the Secretary discharges. In crafting the reconsideration process, we distinguished the issue of whether the borrower has a defense to repayment from whether and how much the Secretary should recoup from the institution. Consideration of the borrower's BD claim is between the borrower and the Secretary, since it is the borrower raising a defense to repaying the Secretary on a loan that is payable to the Secretary. Allowing institutions to request reconsideration is inconsistent with the purpose of this process.

We disagree with the concerns that allowing reconsideration would result in a lack of finality of a claim and that a claim could be continuously granted reconsideration. We also disagree with the proposal to give borrowers an unqualified right to reconsideration. We outline the limited circumstances under which we would consider a reconsideration request: administrative or technical errors; consideration under an otherwise applicable State law standard for loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2017; and new evidence. Limiting the State law reconsideration only to borrowers who would have previously had access to it also should help reduce borrower confusion and address the concerns raised by commenters about the use of a different standard during reconsideration. As we expressed in the NPRM, the specific instances for reconsideration provide appropriate limits on the borrower's ability to seek reconsideration or to ask for the same allegations to be reviewed repeatedly without a rationale for why the outcome may change.

We also disagree with the commenters that the reconsideration process violates principles of res judicata. The bases for reconsideration involve certain legal and technical errors with the Department's decision or new evidence that was not previously considered. It is not simply the Department re-reviewing a decision for any reason. Moreover, the reconsideration process provides a step that is simpler for both the borrower and the Department by having a claim reconsidered instead of going to Federal district court for review.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that the Department allow individual members of a group to request reconsideration on behalf of the entire group, on their own behalf, and for any individual borrower.

Discussion: As we discuss in the NPRM, we considered and rejected a proposal to allow an individual borrower that is part of a group claim to request reconsideration of a claim under a State law standard on behalf of the group, and we discussed our rationale for doing so. 87 FR at 41907. Similarly, as we discussed in the NPRM the regulations specify in § 685.407(a)(2)(ii) that an individual borrower from a group may not file a reconsideration request.

Nothing prevents an individual who is part of a group from submitting a new individual BD claim under § 685.403.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters recommended that if a borrower is denied relief, then the borrower should be entitled to request reconsideration from a different Department official to evaluate whether the first adjudicator made errors when assessing the facts or applying the law. These commenters suggested that under the proposed language, if a borrower believes the Department official adjudicating their claim made an error interpreting the facts or law, the borrower will be forced to challenge the Department's decision in court, which will be more burdensome for the Department and the borrower.

Discussion: As provided in § 685.407(b), the Secretary designates a different Department official for the reconsideration process than the one who conducted the initial adjudication.

Changes: None.

Amounts To Be Discharged/Determination of Discharge

Comments: The Department received a range of comments regarding calculating discharge amounts for a borrower or borrowers with approved claims. Many commenters wrote in support of the proposal to adopt a presumption of full discharge. Many of these commenters, however, said that the Department should either eliminate the possibility of partial discharge or provide a much clearer and narrower set of instances when partial discharge could occur. These commenters pointed to the harms that borrowers suffer that go beyond the amount of the loan, aligning BD with the discharge amounts provided under closed school and other discharge programs operated by the Department, and the Department's history in struggling to define a proper formula for partial discharge. The commenters raised concerns that the examples of partial discharge are too vague, and that the overall Federal standard already would weed out trivial claims. Commenters asked that if partial discharge is maintained, it should be limited to clearly quantifiable sums, or the Department should provide greater clarity for what constitutes educational services or the outcome of a borrower's education. Commenters also suggested an opportunity for borrowers to provide additional evidence before finalizing a partial discharge decision.

Other commenters raised different objections to the proposed partial discharge approach. They said that the Department should not adopt a presumption of full discharge, should conduct its own fact finding for each individual borrower to determine discharge amounts, and give institutions an opportunity to provide additional evidence during the process of determining the discharge amount. Commenters argued that the Department should be capable of assessing the value of an education and did not explain why it no longer thought it could do so. Commenters also argued that the Department should be able to calculate the value of the education and that the proposal to provide a 50 percent discharge if the Department could not easily quantify the amount of harm was not sufficiently reasoned. Commenters also raised many concerns with the examples provided, arguing that some were unrealistic, some did not clarify how they would interact with the presumption of a full discharge, did not address fact-specific elements like a borrower not getting an internship because they lacked the academic qualifications to be eligible for one, and displayed favoritism toward more selective institutions that were more likely to have claims against them result in partial discharge. Commenters argued for rebutting the presumption of a full discharge for claims approved under State law. Commenters argued that the risk of giving borrowers an insufficient amount of discharge needs to be better balanced against the risk of trying to recoup excessive sums from institutions. Commenters also connected the concerns about discharge amounts to other comments around the lack of harm in the overall standard. Commenters also disagreed with the Department's argument that all approved claims to date have been for full discharges since, in all but one instance, those were all against schools that were no longer in business.

Discussion: The Department has tried for many years to construct an approach for calculating partial discharges that is consistent and fair. This includes definitions that rest on principles and examples as well as formulas. The significant number of comments opposed to the concepts of partial discharge, both for those in favor of granting larger discharges and those in favor of granting smaller ones, demonstrate how complex it is to define a clear set of rationales for properly ascertaining the amount of a partial discharge to grant a borrower.

Based upon all of this feedback, the Department is convinced that articulating a clear and consistent standard for applying a partial discharge is not feasible. Instead, the Department will award a full discharge for approved claims, while adding language that an approved claim must be tied to an act or omission that caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief in the form that BD provides. Such an approach also means that a separate calculation of the educational value of a program is not necessary.

The Department finds support for this conclusion in the nature of the remedy provided by a defense to repayment, including the legal principles it implicates and the practical realities of administering the remedial scheme. Although the student loan context is unique, a defense to repayment resembles rescissionary remedies available in contract law (avoidance and restitution or reliance costs), restitution and unjust enrichment (rescission and restitution), and rules governing unsecured consumer lending (obligor's defense to enforcement and recoupment). Although we do not think it is appropriate or necessary to adopt specific rules from these areas of law, they provide helpful points of reference for considering the nature of the remedy that BD provides.

This type of remedy differs from damages. Generally speaking, a damages remedy seeks to measure and compensate an injured party for the harm they suffered; rescissionary remedies, on the other hand, emerge from principles of restitution and restore a party to the status quo ante. In the context of a fraudulent transaction, a damages remedy would seek to measure loss based on either the injured party's out-of-pocket costs or on the benefit of the bargain that the injured party lost as a result of the wrongdoer's fraud. In contrast, relief like the rescissionary remedies mentioned above would seek to unwind the transaction altogether and restore the injured party to a pre-transaction status. The latter category of remedies may be appropriate where damages are unavailable or difficult to reliably estimate or where wrongful or intentional conduct undermines a key reason for entering the transaction in the first place.

Although BD combines interests that do not neatly fit distinctions in conventional legal doctrine, we think it more closely resembles the latter category of remedies described above, which informs our determination to omit the option of partial discharge. Partial discharge more closely resembles conventional damages remedies, which honor compensatory interests that exist in the BD context but present far more practical difficulties. A damages-like remedy in the BD context would suggest that recovery should reflect the difference between the actual value of the educational program and the price a borrower paid. It might also suggest calculating the difference between the education's actual value and the expected marginal increase in a borrower's future earnings. We do not think there is a feasible way of reliably estimating the lost value that would factor into determinations of partial discharge.

This approach will address the concerns of both commenters that pushed for limiting partial discharge and those that were concerned about approved claims being tied to minor matters. For the former group, the elimination of a partial discharge ensures that any borrowers whose claim is approved will receive a full discharge. But for the latter group, the language ensuring that an approved claim must warrant this relief adds a requirement that the circumstances justify the remedy BD provides. This concept is captured in new § 685.401(e), which states that in determining whether an act or omission merits relief, “the Secretary will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers.” Removing the concept of partial discharge also eliminates the need for changes to the rebuttable presumption of a full discharge requested by commenters.

In applying § 685.401(e)'s totality-of-the-circumstances approach, the Department expects to draw on principles and reasoning underlying the application of rescissionary remedies that BD resembles, where factual circumstances call for it. We chose not to expressly adopt the precise standards from any of those areas, because none account for the unique combination of interests at work in the Federal student loan program or for the wide range of varying circumstances that arise in the context of adjudicating BD claims. Because of the student loan context's unique characteristics, the Department anticipates circumstances that may warrant BD relief even if an equivalent remedy would not be available under conventional tests from contract law, restitution and unjust enrichment, or defenses to the enforcement of obligations of an unsecured loan.

The Department considered whether the regulations themselves should include a more specific enumeration of circumstances that will warrant relief, but ultimately determined that the most appropriate approach was to further develop the standard through adjudication of particular cases. To that end, in appropriate cases dealing with circumstances not specifically addressed in the regulations, the Department will make its explanations of remedy-related determinations public to guide affected parties and provide an opportunity for public scrutiny. As a general matter, however, the determination described in subsection (e) is informed by documented cases of fraud and misrepresentation that the Department has addressed in the past. In those cases, the schools' acts and omissions related to borrowers' careers and employability, which are among the core reasons for seeking higher education. In addition, the detriment that borrowers suffered often reflected receiving far less value than the tuition and fees their loans paid for. In those cases, the schools' conduct and resulting harm also often left borrowers unable to meet their loan obligations within a reasonable time. These, however, are only certain attributes of past cases; that is, we consider the circumstances related to those schools to fall within the heartland of what warrants discharges, and we anticipate the range of circumstances warranting discharges will extend beyond these past examples.

The Department also adopts a rebuttable presumption that, for claims that otherwise satisfy the standard, the detriment caused in the case of closed schools will be sufficient to warrant relief. This is based on the Department's experience that when a school closes and is shown to have been responsible for the misconduct encompassed by “actionable acts or omissions,” the borrowers shown to have been injured by that conduct are very likely to fall within the circumstances that warrant relief. This also acknowledges that when schools close, it is often challenging for borrowers or for the Department to obtain additional evidence that may be necessary to fully establish the nature and degree of detriment. In such situations, the Department does not want to make borrowers worse off because their institution has closed. This does not mean that every otherwise proven claim from a borrower who attended a closed school will necessarily be determined to warrant BD relief. Rather, in such cases are determined not to warrant relief, the Department will cite to the specific reasons and evidence for that conclusion.

The Department disagrees with the allegations by the commenters that its prior consideration of partial discharges had been shielding a specific type of institution. The Department has crafted a set of rules based upon what we have seen as misrepresentations, omissions, and other acts over time and there are no sector-specific limitations to those standards.

Changes: We revised the definition of borrower defense to repayment under § 685.401(a) to indicate that the Department must find that the act or omission caused detriment to the borrower warranting relief in the form of a full discharge of the outstanding balance, reimbursement of all amounts paid to the Secretary, deletion of the relevant credit history, and, in the case of a borrower in default, restoration of the ability to access title IV financial assistance. We have also added § 685.401(e), which states that in determining whether a detriment caused by an institution's act or omission warrants relief under this section, the Secretary will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers. For borrowers who attended a closed school shown to have committed actionable acts or omissions that caused the borrower detriment, there will be a rebuttable presumption that the circumstances warrant relief.

Comments: Commenters argued for a greater institutional role in calculating the amount of the discharge. They argued for a separate opportunity to provide a response on the discharge amount. Commenters also argued for the Department to conduct individual fact finding on harm.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with commenters. As noted elsewhere in this rule, the adjudication of borrower defense claims is a matter between the borrower and the Department. Institutions are given a considerable opportunity to submit evidence during that stage and will have a more extensive role during any efforts at recoupment. However, given that the Department is awarding a full discharge for any approved claim, that means an institution's response to the claim itself will also present it with an opportunity to submit evidence regarding the degree of harm caused by the alleged acts or omissions and detriment. As for the discussion about individualized fact finding related to harm, the Department directs commenters to this discussion in the Federal Standard section, which explains, among other things, assessing individualized harm for each claim on a case-by-case basis is not an approach that is realistic or administratively feasible.

Changes: None.

Borrower Defense to Repayment—Recovery From Institutions (§ 685.409)

Comments: Many commenters urged the Department to hold institutions accountable for acts or omissions that give rise to a successful defense to repayment. Other commenters encouraged the Department to limit the exceptions to recoupment, and even if the cost of collection exceeds the amounts received or if the claims were approved outside the limitations period, the Department ought to recover as much funds as possible in the interest of making the taxpayer whole.

Other commenters expressed reservations about the Department's ability to recoup from the institution. These commenters stated that the Department did not have a legal obligation to detail the instances in which it would not seek to recoup because doing so would undermine its overall prosecutorial discretion. The commenters suggested eliminating § 685.409(b) or revising § 685.409(b)(1) to note the Department's discretion will be consistent with typical practice. Other commenters stated that the Department lacked the statutory authority to impose borrower defense liabilities against affiliated persons of closed schools.

Other commenters suggested that by requiring the Department seek recoupment from schools and school owners in all but a few narrow circumstances, the regulations will inadvertently constrain how much relief the Department is willing to provide borrowers. These commenters suggested that the Department would be reluctant to grant relief when doing so might result in an institutional liability that would push a school to close. Additionally, commenters theorized that if the Department is required to pursue recoupment, and believes schools will contest recoupment, then granting BD claims will create substantial additional administrative, legal, and resource demands on the Department. Commenters believed that this would decrease the likelihood that the Department would grant meritorious claims or pursue group processes.

Discussion: We take our responsibility to oversee and protect the taxpayer investment seriously and believe institutions should be held to their financial obligations when their actions result in discharge-related liabilities. Recoupment is a critical tool for ensuring that the institution that committed acts or omissions that lead to approved claims help offset that cost. And it is one of several ways to deter future unwanted behavior. In support of the commenters' request to hold institutions accountable, we proposed § 685.409, which is the framework under which we would seek recovery from institutions of the amounts that the Secretary discharges from BD claims and proposed to use existing procedures for pursuing liabilities under part 668, subpart H proceedings. We discuss recovery proceedings and the subpart H context elsewhere in this document. We proposed limited circumstances under which the Department would not recoup from institutions, namely: the costs of collecting would exceed the amounts received; the claims were approved outside the limitations period; a preexisting settlement agreement precludes additional financial recovery; and the Secretary already collected on the claim in a separate proceeding. In response to commenters who suggested limiting when the Secretary may choose not to collect, we decline. Settlement agreements or recoveries in other Secretarial collection actions may preclude the Secretary's ability to collect and we are merely codifying those limited circumstances on recovery here.

We disagree with commenters who stated that we lack the statutory authority to institute action to collect the amount of approved BD claims from persons affiliated with closed schools. As we discussed in the NPRM, Sec. 454(a)(3) of the HEA provides that an institution must accept responsibility and financial liability stemming from its failure to perform the functions set forth in its PPA—the signed document required for participating in the Federal financial aid programs through which the institution and other relevant parties agree to abide by the rules and requirements governing the programs. This commitment includes persons affiliated with the institution who do not just inherit and profit from the assets of the institution but also assume its liabilities—which, in this case, would be the liabilities associated with the approved BD claims. In the case of a closed school, we described the persons affiliated with the institution as those individuals described in § 668.174(b). The Department proposed this recoupment framework to protect taxpayers as much as possible from losses caused by the actions of schools and affiliated persons.

Because the BD framework is a bifurcated process, the recovery provisions under § 685.409 would have no bearing on the separate process of adjudicating the claim. We dismiss any unfounded conjecture that the recoupment process itself would decrease the likelihood of granting meritorious claims.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters argued the Department failed to consider that institutions may force borrowers to repay them for the cost of loan discharges. Others argued that the Department did not consider that an institution may withhold the transcripts of borrowers whose BD claims are approved, making it harder for the borrower to obtain work.

Discussion: We see no basis for an institution requiring a borrower to repay the cost of a loan discharged due to an approved BD claim. As noted in this final rule, the decision whether to discharge a loan is between the borrower and the Department. The act of recouping on that discharge is between the Department and the institution. We see no reason why an institution would have an enforceable right to shift liability to the borrower.

With regard to transcript withholding, we note that such policies may have separate implications under State and Federal consumer protection laws. Likewise, transcript-withholding practices have also drawn increased scrutiny from the Department independent of this rule and from the CFPB.

Changes: None.

Recoupment Procedures

Comments: Some institutions argued that the recoupment process should occur under subpart G and objected to the Department's proposal to remove § 668.87. Commenters stated that striking § 668.87 represents an extraordinary oversight and the Department should provide institutions a meaningful opportunity to comment on any recovery process. Commenters also argued that the Department had not used § 668.87 to seek recoupment of an approved borrower defense claim and thus could not have a reason for moving away from it. Commenters also argued that reaching faster decisions on claims was not a sufficient reason for shifting to a new recoupment process.

A few commenters stated the Department does not include any regulatory text in the proposed rule that guarantees, specifies, or even suggests that recovery proceedings will occur under subpart H. A few commenters asked if the shift to part 668, subpart H would mean that the same time limits that apply to program reviews would be applied, such as 30 to 90 days to respond a review and 45 days to appeal any final decision.

Discussion: We disagree that recoupment proceedings should be processed under subpart G, and we reiterate that the recoupment process under subpart H is the proper venue. The recovery of amounts discharged concerns monetary liabilities due to the Department, which is chiefly administered through subpart H; subpart G pertains to fine, limitation, suspension, or termination proceedings.

When the Department initially issued final rules on recovery proceedings under § 668.87, subpart G appeared a more appropriate fit because those recovery proceedings also included combined consideration of certain fact-finding steps like the actual claims' merits and relief for members of the group. In doing so, however, it made BD recovery an outlier among the other procedures in subpart G—that is, a fine, limitation, suspension, or termination proceeding involves punitive measures, whereas subpart H appeals are more appropriate in cases involving the recovery or reimbursement of federal funds owed. In light of the other updates to the BD process, we consider subpart H the appropriate venue for recovery.

First, the updated structure and sequence of the process for adjudicating BD claims includes new features to make it a more robust fact-finding process, which also provides for considerable input from schools. But as we explain more in the “ General Opposition to Regulations ” section, BD claims reflect a defense that borrowers assert against repaying the Department and that is principally a Department-borrower matter. It would not make sense to treat a BD claim's merits and school liability as coextensive or to make BD claims' adjudications a series of adversarial steps between the borrower and school—nor would such a sequence be administratively feasible for the volume of BD claims that the Department now faces. As part of the updated structure's acknowledgement of those realities, the decision of whether to approve the claim is handled through the process outlined in § 685.406, which avoids the previous structure's combined merits-relief-recovery step that was a reason for including recovery proceedings in subpart G.

Second and relatedly, in light of that updated structure, there is little reason for recovery to remain an outlier among the punitive steps provided for in subpart G. As noted, BD recovery more closely matches the other means of recovering federal funds provided for in subpart H. As we explain in the “ Federal Standard ” section of this document, relief in the form of a defense to repayment, though unique, resembles features of remedies like rescission, avoidance, restitution, and certain forms of out-of-pocket or reliance costs, not punitive remedies like special, consequential, or exemplary damages—which underscores that recovery proceedings were an outlier in subpart G. In light of the buttressed fact-finding procedures now included in BD-claim adjudication under the updated structure, it makes more sense to avoid leaving recoupment as an outlier in subpart G and focus it on what it is, which is recovering liabilities from the institution rather than a punitive step like the other subpart G proceedings.

Contrary to at least one comment's suggestion, the 2016 BD regulations do not acknowledge that the Department should bear the burden of proof in any recovery action against an institution. Rather, the 2016 BD regulations acknowledged that the proponent of a BD claim bears the burdens of production and persuasion in relation to the claim's merits. The 2016 regulations combined determinations of claims' merits into a single step along with determinations of relief and recovery, and it only envisioned the Department as the proponent of granting group claims. In that context, it made more sense for the Department to bear all relevant evidentiary and persuasive burdens as part of that step. The updated regulations still assign the burden of persuasion on a claim's merits to its chief proponent, but the new regulation's update acknowledges that proponent will often be third-party requestors or simply individual borrowers. Having avoided combining merits, relief, and recovery determinations into a single step, the 2016 regulations' description of the relevant burdens is not applicable.

We believe that, in addition to schools' opportunities to submit evidence and arguments during the adjudication stage, using the familiar process in subpart H will provide institutions with a meaningful opportunity to contest any liabilities sought in recoupment. While it is true that the subpart G process has also been in use for some time, it is used far less frequently than subpart H. For instance, since October 1, 2017, the Department received about 175 subpart H appeals compared to just under 75 actions initiated under subpart G.

In response to the commenters who stated the Department does not include any regulatory text in the proposed rule that guarantees, specifies, or even suggests that BD recovery proceedings would occur under subpart H, we agree that the regulations should better reflect the recovery proceedings. Therefore, we are adding regulatory text that makes clear the Secretary will recoup these amounts discharged under a subpart H proceeding. We are including a new § 668.125 to part 668, subpart H to add specific provisions related to the proceedings for recouping the costs of approved borrower defense claims from institutions. Under these provisions, institutions will have 45 days to request a review of the determination that they are liable for the amounts discharged, with that period running from the day the institution receives a written notice from the Department. This timeline mirrors the process for other part 668, subpart H proceedings and addresses the questions from commenters about how timelines for borrower defense would compare to program reviews.

The added language also specifies that the written notice's request will fulfill the role of a final program review or final audit determination as described in §§ 668.115 to 668.124. This ensures that the correct document will be used for all the proceedings under this part. The Department also adds language in § 668.125(e) to specify that the Department has the burden to prove that the loans it is seeking to recoup on were discharged for the purposes of borrower defense and that the institution has the burden to prove that the decision to discharge the loans was incorrect or inconsistent with law and thus that the institution should not be liable. Also within paragraph (e), the Department specifies the types of evidence that may be submitted in the hearing, which is limited to (1) materials submitted to the Department during the process of adjudicating the claims, which includes information from borrowers, the institution, or other third parties; (2) any materials the Department relied on to adjudicate claims and that the Department provided to the institution; and (3) any other relevant documentary evidence submitted by the institution related to the bases cited by the Department's decision to approve the borrower defense claims and pursue recoupment.

Changes: We have added § 685.409(d) to provide that in requiring an institution to repay funds to the Secretary in connection with the program review issued concerning the institution's act or omission that gave rise to a successful claim under this subpart, the Secretary follows the procedures described in part 668, subpart H. We have also added new § 668.125 within part 668, subpart H that specifies certain procedural elements specific to a borrower defense recoupment proceeding as described above.

Comments: Commenters suggested the Department provide greater detail on the proposed change to the recoupment process, including specifically placing the burden on educational institutions, demonstrating that the proposed framework is permissible under the HEA, and explaining why the Department believes it is better to allocate the burden in recoupment proceedings to the educational institution rather than to the Department. These commenters suggest that, although the proposed rule provided some of the Department's reasoning, the final rule could be more comprehensive and more explicit. Commenters stated that since the HEA supports the proposed recoupment process and burden allocation, the final rule should cite the relevant regulatory authority and case law that supports the Department's interpretation of the HEA, in addition to elaborating on the reasons behind the change.

Discussion: We appreciate the feedback from the commenters. In this rule, we are separating the process for adjudicating a BD claim from the process for recouping the government's loss from the responsible institution. Under this rule, if the Department initiates an action to recoup from the institution, it will follow the procedures provided in 34 CFR part 668, subpart H, which apply to other actions in which the Department attempts to recoup funds from a participating institution. Under those rules, following an audit or compliance determination by the Department, the institution has the burden of demonstrating that its receipt or expenditure of funds was appropriate and in compliance with applicable conditions. That approach is appropriate here since the institution is the party which is most likely to have relevant records relating to the basis of the BD claim and because the institution had an opportunity to present relevant evidence and arguments at the time the Department was adjudicating the claim. To switch the burden of production would create a disincentive to institutions to submit their evidence during the earlier process thus limiting the record before the Department when it is adjudicating claims.

Changes: We have added new § 668.125 within part 668, subpart H that specifies certain procedural elements specific to a borrower defense recoupment proceeding as described in the response to the prior comments.

Comments: A few commenters objected to using part 668, subpart H, saying that it provided more limited rights than what is available under part 668, subpart G. Commenters pointed to the ability to have live witness testimony and, discovery in particular, as elements not available under part 668, subpart H. Commenters also noted that only certain types of evidence can be brought under part 668, subpart H, which would not be the most relevant for defending allegations. They also argued that without showing student harm the Department could not recoup the compensatory damages contemplated under part 668, subpart H. Commenters also asked whether the timeline for this proceeding would match the same timeline used for other part 668, subpart H proceedings.

Discussion: The processes of part 668, subpart G are designed to address the issues presented in those cases—the possible termination, limitation or suspension of the institution's title IV program participation or the imposition of a penalty on the institution. In contrast, the processes provided under part 668, subpart H are designed to resolve issues relating to whether the institution owes a financial liability to the Department. In the BD context, the issue is the latter (financial liability) not the former. The Department has successfully used the processes in subpart H to resolve financial liability issues for more than 30 years, including in cases where the Department is pursuing liabilities from an institution based on approved closed school and other discharges. The commenters did not provide any examples of situations in which the processes provided in subpart H would not be sufficient to address the issues presented. We also note that many commenters' have a misunderstanding of the subpart G process. There is no right to discovery in subpart G and there is no automatic right for the parties to present oral testimony or oral argument. Instead, the hearing officer sets the procedures to be used based on the issues presented as outlined in § 668.89(a) and (b). In BD cases, the institution will have had the opportunity to rebut the evidence and arguments supporting the claims during the adjudication process and will have seen how the Department addressed its arguments during that process. If the Department decides to pursue collection of the liability from the institution, the subpart H process provides an opportunity for the institution to present its arguments that it should not be held liable for the value of the claims granted. This process also affords institutions the ability to appeal the decision of the hearing official to the Secretary.

As noted above, the Department has added language in the new § 668.125 to address certain issues raised by commenters. This specifies the types of evidence considered during the proceedings and confirms the time provided for an institution to request a hearing after receiving written notice.

Changes: We added new § 668.125 that lays out the procedures for a proceeding under part 668, subpart H related to recoupment efforts on approved borrower defense claims. Those additions are described above.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that holding executives and owners personally liable, as authorized under the HEA, would produce two intended results: reducing the burden on students and taxpayers for decisions made by these individuals that resulted in harm to students and creating a deterrent effect on the owners, executives, and board members of these institutions. These commenters urged the Department to adopt specific processes to facilitate the recoupment of funds from the owners and executives of institutions subject to borrower's defense claims, regardless of whether the school has closed.

Discussion: We decline to incorporate specific additional processes to seek recoupment of funds from owners of institutions subject to BD claims. We believe that the financial responsibility regulations in part 668, subpart L, along with the regulations in § 685.409 provide us with adequate authority to recover from owners in circumstances permitted by the HEA.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters noted that there was no regulatory text to accompany the NPRM preamble's mention that we would not seek to recoup on approved claims stemming from an act or omission that would not have been approved under the standard in effect at the time the loan was first disbursed.

Discussion: The Department is adding regulatory text to clarify the policy laid out in the NPRM. Though the standard in this regulation will apply to all claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023, in § 685.409(b) the Department has added language noting that it will not seek to recoup on an approved claim under this regulation unless it would have been approved under the 1994 regulation standard for loans first disbursed prior to July 1, 2017; the 2016 regulation standard for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2017, and before July 1, 2020; and the 2019 regulation standard for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2023.

Changes: Because the standards in this rule will apply to claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023, we revised § 685.409(b) to clarify that the Secretary shall not collect from the school any liability to the Secretary for any amounts discharged or reimbursed to borrowers under the discharge process described in § 685.406 unless: for loans first disbursed before July 1, 2017, the claim would have been approved under the standard in § 685.206(c)(1); for loans first disbursed between on or after July 1, 2017, and before July 1, 2020, the claim would have been approved under the standard in §§ 685.222(b) through (d); and, for loans first disbursed between on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2023, the claim would have been approved under the standard in § 685.206(e)(2).

Comments: A few commenters suggested that the Department conduct a second adjudication under the 1994, 2016, or 2019 regulation, as applicable, before attempting to recoup any approved claims that would have originally been covered by one of those regulations. The commenters noted that the borrower would not have to participate under that process.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with these commenters. Approving a BD claim will not automatically trigger a recoupment process. Instead, as specified in § 685.409, the Department will need to initiate a part 668, subpart H proceeding. As part of that process, the Department would need to demonstrate how the approved claim it seeks to recoup would have met the standards for approval under the relevant regulation. This will provide the institution the information it needs to contest whether that claim would in fact have been approved under the relevant regulation. We will also provide the institution with an opportunity to respond in the relevant proceeding before making a final determination.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters suggested that the Department not bifurcate the processes of approval of BD claims and recoupment. They argued for keeping the two processes together—in particular due to, what they described as, the significant harm to an institution just from approving a claim. They also noted that any approval puts an institution one step closer to recoupment. Another commenter pointed out that the Department did not give examples of how a borrower must cooperate in any recoupment proceeding.

Discussion: The Department declines the commenter's suggestion to combine the approval of BD claims and recoupment. As we discuss elsewhere in this preamble, the adjudication of borrower defense claims is a matter between the borrower and the Department, and recoupment is a matter between the institution and the Department. These are two separate proceedings with different parties and, as such, require different processes. Similarly, the Department disagrees with the commenter's claim that the mere act of approving a BD claim imposes exposure on the institution so extensive that approval and recoupment cannot be disconnected. These concerns are addressed in more detail by the Department's responses in the “ General Opposition to Regulations” section related to comments on institutional reputational and other forms of harm. We also note that the argument about all approvals putting an institution one step closer to recoupment overlooks the actual provisions and structure of this rule. In this rule, the Department outlines several situations in which an institution will not face a recoupment proceeding, including claims outside the limitations period for recoupment or those that would not have been approved under the BD standard in place at the time of the loan's disbursement. The Department also retains the discretion whether to pursue recoupment from the institution in other circumstances.

We specify in § 685.410 that to obtain a discharge, a borrower must reasonably cooperate with the Secretary in any proceeding under these regulations. Because recoupment is a matter between the institution and the Department, the borrower would be a non-party at the recoupment stage because, by then, the borrower's BD claim would have been adjudicated. The sworn statement under penalty of perjury and any other materials submitted by the borrower when they applied are likely to be the most important items from the borrower in a recoupment proceeding. The cases where additional cooperation might be necessary would vary depending on the specifics of the recoupment effort and the facts involved. Accordingly, the Department expects that borrowers will provide any necessary additional assistance as relevant and requested when conducting a recoupment proceeding.

Changes: None.

Time Limit for Recovery From the Institution

Comments: Many commenters recommended that either a 5- or 6-year time limit for recovery from the institution would be optimal to both benefit borrowers and maintain fairness for institutions. A few proposed a 3-year limitation period to align with the record retention requirement for student aid records.

A few commenters suggested limiting the tolling period and suggested revised language. The commenters stated tolling should come to an end and allow the institution to maintain its business without the fear of receiving BD claims at some indeterminate date in the future. Similarly, some commenters expressed concerns about the lack of any limit on the recoupment period for claims approved due to a judgment. Other commenters proposed that the limitations period should be temporarily suspended upon notification by the Department and that any pause should cease upon the issuing of a final decision on the claim or the issuing of a judgment. One commenter requested that the Department make the regulatory text more definitive as to when events suspend the limitations period. Finally, commenters also suggested that the Department issue a decision within 1 year of the final decision notice about whether it would seek to recoup.

Discussion: The Department sought feedback in the NPRM on whether to use a 5-year or 6-year limitations period for BD recoupment proceedings. After careful consideration, the Department is convinced that a 6-year limitations period for recoupment is appropriate. In part, we believe that, because some States have 6-year limitations periods for consumer protection claims and that a borrower could assert a State law standard during reconsideration as a defense to repayment, a 6-year time frame would give the Secretary the ability to recoup the costs of approved BD claims. The limitations period would be tolled if the Department notifies the institution of the BD claim.

We disagree with commenters who suggest a 3-year limitations period. The Department believes this time frame is too short, as it minimizes the financial remedies for the Department.

We also disagree with the proposal to limit the recoupment period for judgments. Obtaining a judgment often takes years after a complaint is filed. The Department is concerned that the limitations period for recoupment could expire while a case is working its way through the litigation process. Using a clock on judgments could also encourage institution to intentionally extend case schedules rather than expeditiously moving a case closer toward resolution. Given that the litigation process produces and preserves evidence, and that a judgment follows a robust factfinding process, the lack of a limitations period for judgments is appropriate.

In response to the commenter who requested that the Department alter the regulatory text on tolling the limitations period, we disagree that the text is vague as the commenter described. The relevant text in those provisions reflects existing regulatory language, and the word “may” is used to avoid presupposing that the school's acts or omissions impacted the borrower or that the borrower's claim should be granted. We enumerated the instances when certain notifications toll the limitations period: when the Department official notifies the school; receipt of a class action complaint; and upon a civil investigative demand or other demand for information from a competent authority. We believe the regulatory text in § 685.409(c) is clear. We are, however, making slight modifications to the regulatory text on the school's receipt of a class action complaint to state the limitations period is tolled when a class is certified in a case against the institution asserting relief that may form the basis of a BD claim.

We are partially accepting the proposal by commenters to not keep the limitations period permanently suspended even after a final decision is issued. In particular, if there is a final agency decision to deny an application, it would be reasonable to cease the tolling of any limitations period, since that would keep a denied claim potentially available for recoupment until the loan is paid off. Therefore, we are updating § 685.409 to cease the suspension of any limitations period upon issuing a final agency decision to deny a claim. We, however, decline the other suggestions from the commenter to cease the suspension of the limitations period upon any approval, or to announce the Department's intentions regarding recoupment within 1 year of a final decision. Based on past experience, the Department is highly likely to receive additional individual applications after the approval of claims. As such, the universe of approved claims under which the Department may seek to recoup could grow over time. It would be more efficient for both the Department and the institution to conduct a single recoupment effort for similarly situated claims. As such, preserving flexibility for a delay between approval and any initiated recoupment is appropriate.

Changes: We revised § 685.409(c)(2)(ii) to state that the limitations period does not apply if a class that may include the borrower is certified in a case against the institution asserting relief that may form the basis of a BD claim. We also added new § 685.409(c)(4) to note that the suspension of the limitations period in this section will cease upon the issuing of a final decision to deny a claim under § 685.406(f)(2).

Comments: A few commenters argued that tolling the limitations period for a class action complaint is too broad. These commenters also stated that written notice of a State investigation is too low a bar to toll. These commenters suggested that tolling of the limitations period be limited to final, non-default adverse judgments regarding a class action complaint asserting relief for a class, or written notice of a final adverse action, or non-appealable finding of a civil investigative demand from a Federal or State agency.

Discussion: We agree with the commenters in part. Simply filing a class action complaint is too low a bar for tolling the limitations period, as a judge may then decline to certify a class. Instead, requiring a class to be certified in a case against the institution establishes a more meaningful bar for tolling the limitations period. This balances the need for the Department to pause the limitations period so that cases can run their course and potentially lead to an approvable BD claim without holding an open-ended limitations period over an institution for every complaint filed.

We disagree, however, with the suggestion to unlink the limitations tolling from the filing of a written State investigation request. As we state in the NPRM, such notice would make the institution aware of the issue and the possibility of related action, essentially alleviating the concerns that a limitations period is meant to address. Receiving such formal notice would require the institution to maintain relevant records and thus addresses any concerns about institutions no longer retaining any relevant records. Moreover, we are concerned that if we did not toll the limitations period upon receipt of the investigation request, the institution may have an incentive to intentionally delay providing responsive documents to avoid the prospect of recoupment.

We also disagree that tolling should only be keyed to final adverse outcomes or findings. As a general matter, a limitations period serves interests in finality, providing notice to defendants, and avoiding adjudications based on stale or disappeared evidence. We do not believe that waiting until final adverse outcomes or findings is needed to account for those interests. Instead, we believe that the events the regulations identify for tolling purposes reflect reasonable points in time that acknowledge the sequence in which Department is likely to learn of relevant bases for relief but that still address interests in finality and avoiding unlimited periods of liability.

Changes: None.

Comment: One commenter argued that since a portion of many borrowers' loans are for costs not attributed to the institution, such as room and board, the Department should not try to recoup on the full amount of all discharges.

Discussion: The Department disagrees. When a student borrows, they are taking out money for the cost of attending that institution and the cost of attendance (COA) is calculated by the institution. It is important to note that institutions have the discretion to determine a reasonable COA based on information they have about their students' circumstances. It would not be appropriate to limit recoupment to some lesser amount. Moreover, given that money is fungible, there is no feasible way to distinguish what funds went to living expenses versus other purposes.

Changes: None.

Pre-Dispute Arbitration and Class Action Waivers (§§ 668.41, 685.300, 685.304)

General Support for Pre-Dispute Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Regulations

Comments: Many commenters supported the Department's proposed rules to prohibit mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers and agreements. These commenters acknowledged that the regulation is within the Department's authority under Sec. 454(a)(6) of the HEA, which authorizes the Department to include in the PPA such “provisions as the Secretary determines are necessary to protect the interests of the United States and to promote the purposes of” the Direct Loan program. One commenter specifically noted that students should not have to forfeit their rights in pursuit of higher education and that had these students been aware of potential wrongdoing earlier, fraudulent activity could have been curtailed.

Discussion: We appreciate the many commenters who wrote in support of these regulations prohibiting institutions from requiring pre-dispute arbitration agreements or class action waivers from borrowers who obtained or benefitted from a Direct Loan. The Department's experience in reviewing and resolving BD claims demonstrates that many borrowers have been misled into attending predatory institutions, all the while incurring student loan debt. We believe it is in the public interest to ensure that these borrowers' rights under the Direct Loan Program, such as their ability to file a BD claim or pursue other appropriate legal relief, are not abrogated by an institution that has chosen to participate in the Direct Loan Program.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters urged the Department to take appropriate enforcement action against any institution that intends to circumvent the notice provisions in these regulations.

Discussion: We agree with the importance of these requirements. The Department intends to vigorously assess institutions' compliance with these regulations and enforce them to protect borrowers' rights.

Changes: None.

General Opposition for Pre-Dispute Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Regulations

Comments: A few commenters representing institutions opposed the Department's prohibition of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements, arguing that such prohibition adds complexity, cost, and uncertainty to the resolution of student complaints. These commenters further asserted that arbitration allows for faster and more cost-effective resolution of disputes when compared to litigation via the judicial system. They further argued that defendants and claimants have the same legal rights in arbitration as in court.

Another commenter stated that the Department did not sufficiently explain its analysis for the proposed regulatory changes pertaining to arbitration agreements. This commenter further asserted that we failed to engage with the justifications for the current regulation in a meaningful manner and, therefore, the Department did not provide the public a sufficient basis to justify the rule change.

Discussion: We disagree with commenters who characterize pre-dispute arbitration agreements as more beneficial to students and borrowers. As discussed in the NPRM, the Department believes that the history of the Federal student loan programs demonstrates that mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers impede borrowers' ability to file BD claims and receive appropriate relief and discharges. As noted in the NPRM, Corinthian Colleges included mandatory arbitration and class action waivers in students' enrollment agreements; these students effectively could not receive BD relief due to the restrictive covenants in their enrollment agreements. Including such provisions in the students' enrollment agreements further insulates institutions from financial liability and severely limits the opportunities for borrowers to pursue recovery while bringing their claims about the institutions' misdeeds to the attention of appropriate regulators and the public.

In response to the commenter who stated that we did not sufficiently explain our analysis for the changes pertaining to pre-dispute arbitration agreements, we note that we explained in the NPRM our reasons for prohibiting pre-dispute arbitration agreements in students' enrollment agreements and the basis for the policy changes from the 2019 rule. We reviewed both the 2016 NPRM and the 2019 final rule and remain concerned about current and prospective students' ability to assess the potential burdens and risks they assume when they choose to attend an institution that includes mandatory arbitration and class action waivers in its enrollment agreement. The NPRM also highlighted those areas where the 2019 regulations failed to protect borrowers and taxpayers. We also note that the 2019 regulations relied on evidence of the efficacy of arbitration that is inconsistent with the actual experience in the student loan programs administered by the Department.

Changes: None.

Comments: Multiple commenters requested that the Department maintain the current regulations with regard to pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers. One commenter posited that the Department's rationale for regulating pre-dispute arbitration agreements was vague enough to allow for arbitration bans tied to any source of Federal funding. One commenter also alleged that the Department did not consider the benefits of arbitration when developing these regulations. Another commenter claimed that the Department has not explained how these regulations better balance the costs and benefits of arbitration.

Discussion: The Department has the authority to regulate the use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements under Sec. 454(a)(6) of the HEA, which authorizes the Department to include in the PPA such “provisions as the Secretary determines are necessary to protect the interests of the United States and to promote the purposes of” the Direct Loan program. Such purposes include providing financing for students to pursue postsecondary education and obtaining repayment for the taxpayers. To obtain repayment, the loans must be enforceable obligations. To ensure that loans are enforceable, borrowers must have a full opportunity to raise legal issues regarding the institution's conduct and services and access to timely and pertinent information that may inform their enrollment decisions.

The Department's actions are tied specifically to promoting the interests of the Direct Loan program. Institutions choose to participate in the Direct Loan program and are subject to many restrictions and requirements relating to that participation. If an institution voluntarily signs a PPA to participate in the Direct Loan program and benefit from public funds, then it must agree to abide by the conditions the Department determines are necessary to safeguard borrowers, taxpayers, and the integrity of the program.

In response to the commenters who stated that the Department failed to consider the benefits of arbitration and the costs and benefits associated with arbitration, we considered the effect of pre-dispute arbitration agreements on the achievement of the goals of the Direct Loan program. For a borrower to fully obtain the benefits of the Direct Loan program, a Federal public benefit, all of the benefits must be available to the borrower without obstruction or delay including a borrower defense discharge. As we explained in the NPRM, we concluded that these pre-dispute arbitration agreements frustrate the purposes of the Direct Loan program.

We recognize that arbitration may provide some potential efficiencies for institutions and consumers and the regulations do not discourage institutions from offering or promoting arbitration to complainants once a grievance is reported. The regulations instead only forbid institutions from imposing arbitration upon Direct Loan borrowers as a mandatory barrier to seeking relief through other means. The regulations also do not bar institutions from immediately addressing a grievance as fully as it can, whether or not the student chooses to raise the complaint to outside authorities.

Changes: None.

Pre-Dispute Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Notices

Comments: A few commenters suggested that we clarify that institutions must use the notice language included in the final regulations verbatim and without conditions. These commenters cited a recent court decision in compelling students to pursue arbitration Britt v. Florida Career College as the basis for the commenters' suggestion.

Several other commenters asked the Department to clarify the timing of notices sent to borrowers to ensure that they be made aware as quickly as practicable that their rights to pursue claims in court have been restored, both individually and as part of a class.

Discussion: The regulations at § 685.300(e)(3) clearly state the specific language that institutions must use in notices (and amendments to notices) provided to borrowers whose class action rights are restored under these regulations, as well as when institutions must deliver such notices or amendments. Similar provisions apply for the regulations at § 685.300(f)(3) for pre-dispute arbitration agreements.

Changes: None.

Comment: One commenter requested clarification regarding an instance where an institution that otherwise satisfied the requirements to notify students that the institution complies with § 685.300(e)(3), moves to dismiss, defer, or stay a class action lawsuit, without reference to the agreement.

Discussion: The Department believes that the regulation clearly refers to the institution's use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements in certain types of cases. We do not believe that further clarification is needed.

Changes: None.

Internal Dispute Process

Comments: Several commenters expressed concerns with provisions that would restrict institutions from requiring students to pursue complaints related to a BD claim through an internal dispute process before presenting it to an accrediting agency or government agency. These commenters assert that requiring students to attempt to resolve disputes internally before filing a claim would lower the number of pending BD claims and provide borrowers with a faster resolution when disputes arise. In addition, commenters claim that reliance upon an internal dispute process would be consistent with the processes established under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) for resolving disputes without protracted legal challenges.

Discussion: We recognize that some internal dispute resolution processes provide some potential merits and efficiencies, and the regulations do not discourage the use or promotion of internal grievance procedures. Instead, the regulations only forbid institutions from imposing a mandatory barrier upon borrowers before seeking relief through other means. The regulations also do not bar institutions from immediately addressing a grievance as fully as they may wish, regardless of whether the student chooses to raise the complaint with outside authorities.

However, if a borrower believes that a grievance is significant enough to warrant the attention of a government agency or accrediting agency, we believe that the benefit of bringing that complaint to their attention outweighs the benefits of compelling the student to delay. The regulations do not impose any duty on such an authority or accrediting agency to take any particular action, and they may choose to defer or delay consideration of the complaint until completion of the institutional process. However, at a minimum, the regulations would help those authorities better monitor institutional performance by making timely notice of substantial complaints more likely.

We disagree with the commenters who invoke the FAA to support mandatory reliance upon an internal dispute process. The FAA specifically refers to the practice of arbitration and does not extend to an entity's internal dispute process. Moreover, for reasons detailed elsewhere in this Notice in response to other comments concerning mandatory arbitration, the Department considers the regulation of class action waivers and pre-dispute arbitration agreements to be justified because they affect the interests of the Direct Loan program.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters noted that requiring students to exhaust internal dispute processes before presenting BD claims to an accrediting agency or relevant government agency diminishes the opportunity to ensure students are afforded full relief and to identify and address systemic issues. Commenters suggested that if institutions maintain that students benefit from internal dispute processes then institutions can offer this as an option.

Discussion: We appreciate the comments in support of prohibiting institutions from requiring Direct Loan borrowers to navigate an internal dispute process prior to presenting a complaint to an accrediting agency or government agency. We agree that allowing institutions to mandate the use of an internal dispute process diminishes the opportunity to ensure students are afforded full relief and to identify and address systemic violations. We agree with the commenters who correctly noted that the regulations do not discourage the use or promotion of internal grievance procedures, and instead only prohibit participating institutions from imposing such a process upon borrowers as a mandatory barrier before borrowers can seek relief through other means.

Changes: None.

Submission of Arbitral and Judicial Records; Centralized Database

Comments: A few commenters suggested the Department eliminate the requirements that institutions submit arbitral and judicial records in connection with BD claims. These commenters stated the requirements to submit these records are extremely broad and likely would place a significant burden on institutions without regard to the materiality of the claims or the likelihood of success.

Discussion: We decline to eliminate the submission requirements. As we stated in the NPRM, use of these mandatory arbitration agreements is often shielded from public view and the lack of transparency is an issue that impedes our ability to oversee institutions and to “protect the interests of the United States” by hampering our ability to identify patterns of abuse and wrongdoings to take appropriate corrective action. In other words, the Department requires these records to conduct oversight over institutions.

We also disagree that these requirements to submit records are overly broad. Section 685.300(g)(1) states that a school must submit arbitral records in connection with any BD claim filed in arbitration by or against the school, and § 685.300(h)(1) states that a school must submit judicial records in connection with any BD claim filed in a lawsuit by the school against the student or by any party, including a government agency, against the school. The required submission of records is thus appropriately connected with any BD claims.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter requested further information regarding requirements for the submission of arbitral and judicial records in accordance with § 685.300(g) and (h). This commenter requested additional details on the publicly accessible centralized database where the Secretary would publish arbitral and judicial records. The commenter further requested clarification on the policy basis for the Department's regulations, who the Department believes will access these records and why publicly available documents (such as judicial records) will need to be submitted when they are freely available elsewhere. Finally, the commenter asked whether the Department has considered the potential for individuals to “troll” the database for clients.

A separate group of commenters suggested that the Department clarify what it means by “in connection with any borrower defense claim filed in arbitration,” (§ 685.300(g)) or filed “in a lawsuit” (§ 685.300(h)). They asked whether the Department is asserting that covered records must be submitted after a BD claim is filed or whether we would require an institution to submit records that could give rise to a BD claim.

Discussion: To implement the 2016 regulations on the prohibition of pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers, the Department published an electronic announcement about the changes made under those regulations. We envision a similar approach to implementation of these regulations and will provide guidance to institutions on how to submit arbitral or judicial records in accordance with the regulations. Because the requirements of these regulations will include an information collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Department will seek public comment about the data we will collect, as well as information about the centralized database. This includes where the Secretary will publish the centralized database containing the appropriate arbitral and judicial records.

With respect to the commenter's requests for clarification on the policy basis for the Department's regulations, the Department reiterates its policy position and the Department's rationale in the NPRM, specifically the discussion set forth at 87 FR 41913 through 41918. Notably, and we emphasize again, the institutions' use of mandatory arbitration agreements impedes the Department's oversight authority as arbitral records are often shielded from public view. We disagree with the commenters' assertion that publicly available documents are freely available elsewhere. In the case of judicial records that may be public, some records may be difficult for the general public to access because of user registration, fees, and other hindrances. The Department's publication of these arbitral and judicial records in a centralized database supports open government initiatives to help ensure consistency, increase transparency, and establish self-service opportunities for stakeholders, especially for borrowers or prospective students.

In response to the commenter's request to clarify whether the Department has considered the potential for individuals to “troll” the database for clients, we considered the matter and addressed confidentiality concerns in the NPRM.

Finally, with respect to the commenters who suggested that the Department clarify what it means by “in connection with any borrower defense claim,” we believe the regulatory text at § 685.300(i)(1) provides the parameters of a BD claim, which is a claim based on an act or omission that is or could be asserted as a borrower defense as defined in the regulations. Thus, we would require institutions to submit records in connection with an act or omission that is or could give rise to a BD claim.

Changes: None.

Comments: Multiple commenters requested that the Department rescind the proposal and maintain the current regulations, with regard to pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers. Commenters asserted that the 2019 Rule cited that the “primary motivation” for allowing the use pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers was to provide students “an opportunity to obtain relief in the quickest, most efficient, most cost-effective, and most accessible manner possible.” Commenters further stated that when weighed against the costs of a trial, the Department chose when issuing the existing regulations “to emphasize speedy relief and accessibility” in resolving grievances. A commenter alleged that the Department did not explain why the additional time and cost of a class action lawsuit is preferable to the speed of arbitration. Commenters also argued that the disclosures currently required under § 668.41(h) protect student borrowers by requiring detailed consumer disclosures about the use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers, consistent with Congress' intent with respect to the utilization of arbitration for dispute resolution.

Discussion: In the NPRM we described the actual effect that class action waivers have had in the postsecondary education field on students and Federal taxpayers. Nothing in the comments opposing the regulation provides evidence that these effects are exaggerated or mischaracterized, that the substantial problems enabled by the use of class action waivers has been reduced or eliminated by more modest measures, that the disadvantages and burdens the regulation would place on schools outweigh the real costs and harm that use of class action waivers has already caused, or that there is any reason to expect that this pattern will change so that such waivers will not enable these same problems in the future.

Reliance upon internal dispute resolution processes and arbitration impedes effective program oversight by the Department as well as accrediting agencies and other oversight bodies, because institutional and arbitral records are often shielded from public view. Prospective students may not be able to make informed enrollment and borrowing decisions without knowledge of or access to arbitral records that may otherwise reveal systemic problems at an institution, whereas public knowledge of a class action suit allows prospective students to make more informed decisions.

It is possible that restricting the use of class action waivers may in some cases increase legal expenses and could divert funds from educational services or lead to tuition increases. We also concur that arbitration or an internal resolution process may in some cases be faster or less costly. However, the 2019 regulations failed to adequately balance the costs and benefits of arbitration, focusing too heavily upon the premise that arbitration provides speedier results, while failing to consider the protection of the interests of the United States, whose funds are at stake for BD claims asserted on Direct Loans. Moreover, the benefits associated with the availability of a class action suit as a borrower remedy are not limited merely to the amount of monetary relief or the speed with which a grievance is resolved. The potential for a class action lawsuit also offers value as a preventative measure, and we expect that the potential for exposure to class actions will motivate institutions to provide competitive value and treat their student borrowers fairly in order to reduce the likelihood of such suits occurring.

In response to comments that the disclosures currently required under § 668.41(h) protect students, the Department does not believe that there is evidence that such protections are adequate to safeguard borrowers against harm. Since the issuance of the 2019 regulations, the Department has heard from borrowers, student advocacy groups, State attorneys general, and the public about problems arising from mandatory class action waivers and the opaqueness of institutional and arbitral records. In a review of court filings, the Department observed that institutions frequently relied on pre-dispute arbitration clauses to discourage students from filing appropriate claims in court and to force them into arbitration. The records of these arbitration proceedings are not publicly accessible. State attorneys general have also written the Secretary to request a BD discharge on behalf of the borrowers in their states and the Department found that the students' enrollment agreements purported to bar such borrowers from bringing a BD claim to the Department, even though they had a legal right to do so. Finally, the Department was also apprised of reports and studies that suggest that, in other consumer-related fields, forcing individual borrowers into arbitration with businesses that have experience with arbitration and which were involved in structuring the arbitration process tilted in the favor of the industry irrespective of the amount of disclosures that were made.

In sum, the Department's position is that class action waivers contribute to an environment in which bad actors can mask abuses, delay or evade accountability, and harm borrowers by restricting access to the full array of relief available to them under the law.

Changes: None.

Legal Authority

Comments: A few commenters opposed the Department's pre-arbitration and class action waiver regulations and argued that the restriction on mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers violates decades of public policy favoring arbitration and that courts have ruled that prohibitions against arbitration violate the FAA.

Discussion: As we explained in the 2016 NPRM, the Department lacks authority, to displace or diminish the effect of the FAA and does not invalidate any arbitration agreement, whether already in existence or obtained in the future. This is true for these regulations as well; we are not displacing or diminishing the effect of the FAA, and these regulations do not affect any arbitration agreement in existence or obtained in the future.

As we explained in the NPRM, this position has prevailed in Federal district court. Specifically, the court in California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools v. Devos noted that “if a school wants to participate in a Federal program and to benefit from the many billions of dollars that the United States distributes in Direct Loans every year, it must agree to abide by the conditions that the Secretary reasonably determines are necessary to protect the public and the integrity of the program.” In that case, the court concluded that the Department's 2016 regulations were consistent with the Secretary's authority under the HEA and did not conflict with the FAA. We further noted that regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2019, which barred health care facilities participating in the Federal Medicare and Medicaid programs from requiring residents to agree to binding arbitration as a condition for admission, were similarly upheld based on the agency's authority to condition participation in those Federal programs.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters contended that the Department lacks the authority to regulate on arbitration agreements or class action waivers. In these commenters' view, absent an explicit statutory authority to regulate on arbitration agreements and class action waivers, the Department cannot prohibit an institution from including in the institution's enrollment agreements an arbitration agreement or class action waiver in the filing of a BD claim.

Discussion: The Department respectfully disagrees with these commenters. Under Sec. 454(a)(6) of the HEA, the Secretary shall include in the institution's PPA “provisions as the Secretary determines are necessary to protect the interest of the United States and to promote the purposes of” the Direct Loan program. Moreover, Sec. 410 of the GEPA provides the Secretary with authority to make, promulgate, issue, rescind, and amend rules and regulations governing the manner of operations of, and governing the applicable programs administered by, the Department. Under Sec. 414 of the Department of Education Organization Act, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as the Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to administer and manage the functions of the Secretary or the Department. Collectively, the above statutory authorities granted to the Secretary gives the Department broad discretion to regulate on arbitration agreements and class action waivers as they relate to a BD claim.

Changes: None.

Definitions

Comments: A few commenters requested that the Department modify its definition of “borrower defense claim” in § 685.300(i) to be a claim based on an act or omission that is or could be asserted as a borrower defense. These commenters note that for purposes of the pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver provisions, clarity around a borrower defense claim is needed given the Eleventh Circuit ruling in Young v. Grand Canyon University, Inc.

Discussion: The proposed rule's definition of a BD claim included as an element an actionable act or omission, which refers to the enumerated categories or conduct that may serve as a basis for a borrower defense. Because the definition is inclusive of such an act or omission, we were concerned that adding a reference to a claim based on that act or omission would risk being superfluous. Nevertheless, considering the Eleventh Circuit ruling in Young, which focused on a BD claim and the regulatory language we constructed, the Department will incorporate the language proposed by the commenters.

Changes: We revised § 685.300(i) to define a borrower defense claim as a claim based on an act or omission that is or could be asserted as a borrower defense as defined in the BD regulations.

Comments: One commenter expressed concern about institutions that contract with online program managers (OPMs). The commenter indicated that OPMs develop, deliver, and recruit for online degree programs that are marketed and promoted using the brand name of their institutional clients. OPMs are compensated by a percentage of revenue raised from the academic programs they manage, which set up incentives like those found among predatory institutions. The commenter urged the Department to consider OPMs covered under the pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver regulations.

Discussion: As we stated in the NPRM, the Department's authority with respect to the terms and conditions of the institution's PPA with the Secretary only pertains to the making of a Direct Loan or the provision of educational services for which the Direct Loan was intended. OPMs may be covered under these regulations only to the extent they are providing services that are part of the borrower's educational program for which the Direct Loan was intended.

Changes: None.

Interest Capitalization (§§ 685.202, 685.208, 685.209)

General Support for Interest Capitalization Regulations

Comments: Many commenters expressed their support for our proposal to end interest capitalization on Direct Loans where it is not required by the HEA.

One commenter noted that the proposed rule will have the effect of slowing growth on the balance of loans and create a fairer repayment system. This commenter also stated that interest capitalization imposes financial burdens on borrowers who are already experiencing financial instability.

Commenters pointed out that ending interest capitalization would assist many borrowers who have struggled with high loan balances and repayment of their loans since their overall amount of interest paid would be significantly lower.

Discussion: The proposed regulations eliminated most of the current regulatory provisions that require capitalization for Direct Loans under circumstances when it is not required by statute. As proposed, accrued interest would no longer be capitalized when: a borrower enters repayment; upon the expiration of a period of forbearance; annually after periods of negative amortization under the alternative repayment plan or the income-contingent repayment (ICR) plan; when a borrower defaults on a loan; when a borrower who is repaying under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income-driven repayment plan fails to recertify their income or chooses to leave the plan; and when a borrower who is repaying under the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) plan, fails to recertify their income or leaves the plan. As noted later in this preamble, the Department missed two instances of interest capitalization that are not statutorily required in the NPRM but will be included in this final rule, which is why we describe the proposal as covering “most” instances of capitalization. We believe the final rule will now cover all instances where capitalization is not required by statute.

Although the Department will not capitalize interest, it will still accrue while a borrower is in these situations. The borrower will have to pay that interest before a payment is applied to the principal balance.

The Department cannot change interest capitalization requirements in the HEA. This includes when a borrower exits a period of deferment on an unsubsidized loan and when a borrower who is repaying loans under the income-based repayment (IBR) plan is determined to no longer have a partial financial hardship, including if they fail to annually recertify income.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters asked the Department to make the elimination of interest capitalization retroactive.

Discussion: The Department thanks these commenters for their support for the amendments to these regulations. The Department does not have the authority to make these changes retroactive.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter requested the Department eliminate interest capitalization for all Federal student loans and require student loan servicers to reduce the principal balances by the amount of capitalized interest charged over the original amount borrowed.

Discussion: In this regulation, the Department eliminates all instances of interest capitalization on Direct Loans that we can address through regulation.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters recommended the Department end the practice of capitalizing interest for borrowers while they are still in school.

Discussion: The Department does not capitalize interest while the borrower is in school. Instead, capitalization occurs when a borrower who is in school moves into repayment. In this regulation, the Department ended capitalization when a borrower first enters repayment on a loan. Borrowers who enter repayment and then return to school on at least a half-time basis are placed on an in-school deferment. Capitalization does occur when the in-school deferment ends, but that is a statutory requirement that we cannot change.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that we remove all instances of capitalization where we have the legal authority to do so. They noted two instances where we could do so yet were not reflected in the NPRM—when a borrower is repaying loans under the alternative repayment plan and when a borrower no longer has a partial financial hardship under the PAYE repayment plan.

Discussion: We agree with the commenters who suggested these two additional areas where we have the authority to eliminate interest capitalization. The Department intended to remove all instances of interest capitalization that were not required by statute in our proposed regulations. During the development of the regulations through the negotiated rulemaking process, however, these two instances were missed. We believe these changes are consistent with the Department's overall goals and in the best interest of borrowers. We thank the commenters for their suggestions, which we accepted.

Changes: The Department is amending the regulations to remove interest capitalization at § 685.208(l)(5) when a borrower is repaying under the alternative repayment plan and at § 685.209(a)(2)(iv)(A)(1) when a borrower no longer has a partial financial hardship under the PAYE repayment plan.

Comments: One commenter expressed concerns for borrowers who were not aware of how interest capitalization would apply to their loans and were not always given proper information or counseling on it. They urged the Department to eliminate all instances of interest capitalization on Federal student loans. Another commenter requested that the Department eliminate interest capitalization in all instances.

Discussion: Every borrower is required to complete entrance counseling to ensure they understand the terms and conditions of their loan. Borrowers learn through entrance counseling how interest works, their repayment options, and how to avoid delinquency and default. Information regarding interest and repayment is also included in the master promissory note which the borrower signs. However, the Department agrees that the counseling may not prevent all borrower confusion around interest capitalization. Removing instances of interest capitalization where not required by statute will thus be one less thing for borrowers to have to understand when going through counseling.

As discussed earlier, the Department cannot eliminate interest capitalization where it is required by the HEA.

The Department is eliminating interest capitalization in all circumstances where we have the discretion to do so. These changes only apply to Direct Loans. We do not have a legal basis to make the suggested changes in the FFEL program regulations. The terms of FFEL program loans are set by the promissory note signed by the borrower and the lender, and the lender has a right to receive the return on the loan that was set under the law at the time the loan was made. In this case, the regulations and the promissory note give the lender the right to capitalize interest in most cases. The assumption is that the lender took that into account when deciding that it was financially worthwhile to make the loan.

The interest rates on all Federal student loans, including those in the FFEL Program, are set by Congress and cannot be changed by the Department.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters stated that borrowing Federal student loans with interest capitalization makes education costlier for graduate students who face capitalizing events because they are enrolled in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans that require annual recertification of income.

Discussion: We have addressed this concern by eliminating interest capitalization on Direct Loans when a borrower who is repaying under the PAYE plan fails to recertify income and when a borrower who is repaying under the REPAYE plan leaves the plan.

Changes: None.

Comments: Some commenters requested that the Department no longer capitalize interest when borrowers consolidate their Federal student loans into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

Discussion: The Department does not believe such a change would be appropriate. Taking out a consolidation loan does not result in capitalization; rather, it is a new loan with a new principal balance made up of the principal and interest that the borrower owed on each of the underlying loans. That is different from the capitalization events covered in this final rule, in which outstanding interest is added to the principal balance of the existing loan.

Changes: None.

General Opposition to Changes in Interest Capitalization

Comments: One commenter writing in opposition to the changes to interest capitalization produced a hypothetical example that showed the dollar savings to the borrower from eliminating capitalization would be small per $100 borrowed. The commenter also argued that the size of the savings versus the cost of the proposal both financially, for servicers to implement it, and borrowers to understand it, may not pass a cost and benefit analysis. They suggested the changes to interest capitalization be limited only to new borrowers going forward.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenter. The example used is for a one-time, short-term capitalization event and does not account for the long-term effects of capitalized interest or the possibility of multiple capitalization events. Those items are reflected in the estimated cost of the policy in the Regulatory Impact Analysis. Moreover, there would not be any costs to the borrower from understanding this policy because it would be implemented automatically to provide them a benefit. If anything, it would reduce costs for borrowers related to comprehending student loan repayment since the Department has found that borrowers are often confused as to why their balances have grown. Additionally, we compensate servicers for their time spent updating policies and procedures. We also anticipate reducing this burden will reduce the number of phone calls servicers must field from borrowers who are unhappy with their loan balance growing. Finally, this benefit should be available to all borrowers in repayment going forward. There is nothing in the record that would justify only providing this type of benefit to new borrowers.

Changes: None.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharges (§§ 674.61, 682.402, and 685.213)

Comments: Many commenters overwhelmingly supported the proposed revisions to the TPD discharge regulations. In particular, the commenters supported expanding the list of healthcare professionals who may certify that a borrower is totally and permanently disabled; removing the 3-year income monitoring period; and expanding the circumstances that may support a TPD discharge based on SSA disability determinations.

A few commenters suggested that TPD discharges should be extended to other groups of disabled borrowers, such as cancer patients; partially disabled veterans; primary caretakers and spouses of permanently disabled persons; borrowers with permanent disabilities who still work; people who have been disabled for over 10 years; and people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Commenters argued that if there is factual evidence that a student loan borrower is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by means of the Social Security earnings record data demonstrating a period of substantial earnings impairment for a continuous period of not less than 60 months, then the borrower should qualify for a TPD discharge either automatically or upon their own certification of their disability status in accordance with the TPD discharge application process.

Discussion: The Department does not believe that we should specify medical conditions that may qualify a borrower for a TPD discharge, but instead should describe general criteria for meeting the TPD discharge requirements. Many borrowers with the conditions cited above may already qualify for a TPD discharge under the current regulations either through a physician's certification, an SSA disability determination, or a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability determination. However, we note that TPD discharges as outlined in the HEA are intended for borrowers who are totally and permanently disabled, not for the spouse or caretaker of a disabled individual. Regarding Social Security earnings, a continuous period of low earnings does not necessarily indicate that a borrower is disabled and would not in itself be sufficient grounds for granting a TPD discharge. We believe that a TPD discharge in such a situation would be inappropriate, unless the borrower qualified through one of the three means available for receiving a TPD discharge: an SSA disability determination, a VA disability determination, or a certification from an authorized healthcare professional.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter raised concerns about the potential ramifications stemming from large numbers of borrowers experiencing “Long COVID” (Post-COVID-19 conditions and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2). The commenter expressed the view that many borrowers with Long COVID will likely have difficulty obtaining TPD discharges because Long COVID is quite new and is little understood by the medical community. Testing capacities or treatment avenues for Long COVID remain limited, and some medical professionals may not believe that the condition exists at all. In addition, in the view of the commenter, patients experiencing Long COVID may find it difficult to receive SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability at all, much less be classified in either the SSA's Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE) or Medical Improvement Possible (MIP) categories. The commenter believes that it is more likely that patients with Long COVID would be placed in SSA's Medical Improvement Expected (MIE) category, which requires a medical review by the SSA after 1 year. The commenter urged the Department to revise the regulations in the Final Rule to consider Long COVID and other disabling chronic illnesses. The commenter recommended, as an intermediate approach, establishing a Long COVID forbearance that would both pause loan payments and set the interest rate at 0 percent during the forbearance period. The forbearance would apply to borrowers with Long COVID, but for whom a TPD discharge determination cannot currently be made. The commenter expressed the view that this would provide time to add to our body of knowledge about Long COVID while offering some relief to borrowers. At a minimum, the commenter requested that the Department actively monitor developments with respect to our understanding of Long COVID's impact on individuals and assess whether TPD discharges are adequately serving borrowers afflicted with Long COVID.

Discussion: While much is not known about Long COVID at this point, a borrower suffering from disabilities severe enough to prevent the borrower from working would exhibit symptoms that a qualified physician or other healthcare professional would be able to diagnose. The definition of a total and permanent disability includes a medical condition that “can be expected to last” or “has lasted” for a continuous period of not less than 60 months. While physicians and other healthcare professionals may be reluctant to certify that a Long COVID medical condition can be expected to last for up to 60 months, in the near future, they will be able to certify whether the condition has lasted for up to 60 months.

The commenter recommended establishing a new forbearance type specifically geared toward borrowers suffering from Long COVID. Even if this were feasible, we believe that the existing forbearance and deferment provisions render such a regulatory action superfluous. Currently, a borrower who is experiencing severe medical problems and who does not qualify for any of the existing deferments—such as an unemployment deferment or an economic hardship deferment—may apply for a forbearance. The Department grants forbearances for borrowers with medical conditions that do not rise to the level of a total and permanent disability. Interest accrues during forbearance periods. While the Department may pause interest accrual during a national emergency, the Department does not have the authority to set interest rates on title IV loans. Interest rates on title IV loans are established by Congress.

Changes: None.

Comments: Loans discharged due to TPD are not currently reported as a zero balance on the borrower's credit report for up to 3 years after the discharge due to the post-discharge monitoring period. A few commenters suggested that the change in the monitoring period after a TPD discharge also necessitates a change in credit bureau reporting practices for title IV loan holders. Commenters also suggested that title IV loan holders report these loans as having a zero balance immediately after a TPD discharge is granted.

Discussion: While the final regulations eliminate post-discharge income-monitoring, they do not remove the requirement that a loan discharged due to TPD may be reinstated if the borrower takes out another title IV loan or TEACH Grant during the 3-year post discharge monitoring period. Therefore, the consumer credit reporting practices of title IV loan holders for loans that have qualified for a TPD discharge need to stay unchanged.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters stated that under the current proposed regulatory language, the Secretary would be required to provide automatic relief only if they obtained data from SSA or the VA, but there is no obligation to obtain such data. The commenters believe the rule should be strengthened to place an affirmative obligation on the Secretary to obtain data from the VA and SSA. In addition, the Department should work with SSA and the VA (through joint rulemaking or other means) to ensure that each agency is bound by the process set forth in this regulation. Several commenters encouraged the Department to automate the TPD discharge process as much as possible wherever the Department can do so for qualifying borrowers to access a TPD discharge without an application.

Discussion: The Secretary obtains TPD discharge data from the VA and the SSA through formal agreements with those agencies. The Department cannot, through its regulations, bind another agency to share with the Department the information necessary to grant a TPD discharge. We agree with commenters that automating the TPD process, as we have done with our agreements with SSA and VA, is desirable. However, we also believe that it is important to maintain a borrower application process for borrowers who may not qualify for a TPD discharge based on any current or future automated TPD discharge process.

Changes: None.

Comments: The Department received a few comments objecting to the proposal to remove the 3-year income-monitoring period. One commenter argued that it would lead to inappropriate TPD discharges that are costly to the taxpayer. The commenter referenced Sec. 437(a)(1) of the HEA, which directs the Department to develop safeguards that prevent fraud and abuse in the discharge of liabilities due to total and permanent disability to ensure that TPD discharges are granted only to individuals who truly meet the statutory definition of total and permanently disabled.

A few other commenters pointed to the same section of the HEA to argue that Congress intended for the Department to have a monitoring period. One of these commenters pointed out that Sec. 437(a)(1)(A) and (B) of the HEA describe the circumstances under which reinstatement of a discharged loan is appropriate. They also noted that Sec. 437(a)(3) requires the Secretary to “establish and implement” procedures for an income monitoring process, apply it “to each borrower of a loan that is discharged due to total and permanent disability”, and use return information “to determine the borrower's continued eligibility for the loan discharge.” Finally, that same commenter also pointed to the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the release of IRS tax return data for the purpose of monitoring and reinstating title IV loans that were discharged due to a total and permanent disability.

One commenter also pointed to the extensive inaccuracies (and potentially fraudulent occurrences of TPD discharges) as described in OIG Final Audit Report 06-80001 (June 1999) that were identified prior to implementation of the monitoring period. The commenter recommended that, rather than returning to what the commenter characterized as the 1990's discharge process that allowed potential fraud and abuses, the Department should instead use the tools Congress has provided to minimize paperwork burden on individuals with a disability while also minimizing taxpayer burden from the cost of TPD discharges.

Discussion: Section 437 of the HEA states that the Secretary “may promulgate regulations to reinstate the obligation and resume collection on, loans discharged” due to TPD. That section does not require nor make mention of a post-discharge monitoring period, much less a 3-year monitoring period. The statutory language in no way obligates the Secretary to promulgate such regulations. The HEA does state that “the Secretary may promulgate regulations to reinstate the obligation of, and resume collection on, loans discharged under this subsection.” Under these final regulations, loans discharged due to TPD will be reinstated under certain conditions. The Secretary will require the reinstatement of a borrower's discharged loans if the borrower obtains a new title IV loan or TEACH Grant within 1 year of receiving the TPD discharge. The commenter inaccurately states that limiting the post-discharge monitoring period in this way is a return to the TPD discharge process that was in place prior to 1999.

Moreover, as noted in the NPRM, the Department has found that the income monitoring requirement is significantly more likely to result in the reinstatement of a loan for a low-income borrower than it is to identify someone whose income suggests they are able to engage in gainful employment. As noted in the NPRM, since 2013, loans for more than half of the 1 million borrowers who received a TPD discharge were reinstated because the borrower did not respond to requests for income documentation. However, an analysis conducted by the Department with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data suggests that 92 percent of borrowers who received a TPD discharge did not exceed the earnings threshold, and that these results are similar for borrowers whose discharge is based on an SSA disability determination or physician's certification process. Similarly, an older review by GAO found that the overwhelming majority of reinstatements were occurring because borrowers were not responding to requests for furnishing income information and that very few borrowers were earning above the income threshold. Moreover, while Congress did give the Department authority for automatically receiving income data for borrowers who received a TPD discharge, that change unfortunately only will provide the data at a household level. This is a challenge because the TPD requirements are based upon an individual's earnings. That means the Department would be unable to ascertain the proper earnings level for married individuals through any automatic data match. Therefore, the Department is concerned that the income-monitoring requirement is something not required by Congress that generates far more false positives than real ones and cannot be addressed through automatic sharing of income information. Accordingly, the Department maintains its position of eliminating the income-monitoring period.

As to the OIG audit, since 1999 the Department has made many reforms to the TPD discharge process, including centralizing the TPD discharge application review process within the Department, rather than relying on guaranty agencies in the FFEL program and school lenders in the Perkins Loan program to make TPD discharge decisions. The Department has implemented reforms allowing TPD discharges to be granted based on SSA or VA disability determinations, rather than relying solely on certifications by physicians. Finally, the Department has entered into agreements with SSA and VA to allow for automatic discharges to be granted based on information provided to us directly from these agencies. All of these reforms provide for more consistent TPD discharge review and significantly reduce the likelihood of TPD discharges being granted in error.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter expressed dismay over disability fraud, calling it widespread. The commenter referenced a particular case involving TPD discharges, and cited a June 15, 2022, press release from the Department of Justice, stating that the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York had charged a nurse practitioner with allegedly orchestrating TPD discharges in excess of $10 million on behalf of more than 100 borrowers that the nurse practitioner led to believe were eligible for various forms of student-loan relief.

The commenter expressed the view that the while this alleged fraudster was caught, the revised rule would enable many more fraudsters to operate by enabling lower-level professionals to certify a total and permanent disability.

Discussion: While the Department cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, we note that the press release from the DOJ states that the charges were brought due to “the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.” The commenter has highlighted the work that the Department of Education does, through its Office of Inspector General, of investigating cases of apparent fraud with regard to the student financial aid programs. We expect OIG to continue its outstanding work in this regard. We do not see the final regulations as impeding that work in any way. In fact, by enhancing BD discharges, false certification discharges, and closed school discharges, the overall impact of these final regulations will be to reduce fraud in the student loan programs.

Changes: None.

Comment: One commenter asserted that using an income-monitoring period does not have to be a cumbersome process for the disabled borrower. The commenter notes that the Department has asserted that requiring reinstatement of loans for borrowers who have received TPD discharges if the borrower does not submit annual income information results in significant numbers of reinstatements simply because the borrower did not respond to a paperwork request and not because the borrower had earnings above the threshold for reinstatement.

The commenter asserted that the Department's position is untenable because borrowers are only required to submit annual income information because the Department has failed to carry out the authorization that was extended by Congress through the FUTURE Act. The Department could easily remedy borrower burden by implementing the automated data match as authorized. In doing so, we could alleviate borrower burden while protecting taxpayer dollars.

Discussion: The Department notes that under the COVID-19 HEROES waivers, borrowers who have received TPD discharges have not been required to provide annual income information. The Department believes that a more permanent solution is needed to relieve borrowers of this administrative burden by eliminating the regulatory requirement for annual income information. Moreover, we note that the authorization allowed by the FUTURE Act would still not fully absolve borrowers of the burden associated with income monitoring. That is because the current TPD income monitoring process looks at the income of the individual borrower, but IRS data are not able to provide individual income information from a married filing jointly tax return. We would thus not have enough information to determine if a married borrower filing jointly who received a TPD discharge had earnings that exceeded the threshold.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters objected to allowing non-physician practitioners to make TPD determinations. They believed that current law prohibits non-physician healthcare professionals from making such determinations and point to State scope of practice laws which may have certain limitations on nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and psychologists diagnosing, prescribing, treating, and certifying an injury and determining the extent of a disability.

Another commenter believed that a licensed psychologist may be unable to reasonably certify the inability of a person to function productively in society. In the view of the commenter, entrusting TPD determinations to an individual psychologist invites fraud and incorrect TPD determinations. The commenter felt that the risks of error and fraud were not sufficiently weighed against the minor additional accessibility that would be available under the proposed rule, which, in the view of the commenter, rendered the proposed rule arbitrary and capricious.

Discussion: We believe that expanding the list of healthcare providers who may certify a TPD discharge application is imperative in enabling eligible borrowers to more easily obtain TPD discharges for which they qualify. Many states allow NPs to practice independently, meaning that they can run their own healthcare practice without the need for a collaborating physician in those states. PAs also have an extensive level of knowledge and training in general medicine and, while they often practice alongside physicians, PAs can also practice independently. When treating a patient, there are no requirements that a physician must be on the premises or that each patient must be seen by a physician in addition to the PA. The PA can take complete charge of patient appointments. A shortage of physicians, especially in poor and rural areas, results in NPs and PAs serving as primary healthcare providers for many individuals. Allowing NPs and PAs to certify TPD applications will be an enormous benefit for borrowers who seek care from these types of providers—particularly for those without access to doctors. Regarding NPs and PAs being unable to certify TPD discharge applications due to State scope of practice laws, the TPD regulations do not require NPs or PAs to certify TPD discharge applications; they simply allow it. Such individuals should know of the limitations of their own state licensure. However, we see no reason to limit the authority of all NPs and PAs merely because some States have such limitations.

Psychologists licensed at the independent practice level by a State are generally required to have Ph.D.s. They identify psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues and diagnose disorders. They provided evidence-based clinical services, including psychotherapy, evaluation and assessment, consultation, and training. Psychologists who provide health care services are primarily independent practitioners. The Department believes psychologists licensed at the independent practice level are well-qualified to diagnose patients, and to make TPD determinations.

Changes: None.

Comment: A commenter believed that § 674.61(d)(1) (“Discharge without an application”) does not appear to require sufficient evidence of a total and permanent disability. The provision states merely that it is enough to receive VA data showing that the borrower is “unemployable due to a service-connected disability.” The commenter believed that being “unemployable” is a temporary and non-severe designation rather than a determination of total and permanent unemployability or disability. The VA also uses a specific definition of “individual unemployability” (IU) that distinguishes “substantially gainful employment” from “marginal employment.” The commenter recommended that the Department should establish its own definition of a qualifying disability and make its own determinations, on an individual basis, on the basis of that definition.

Discussion: The commenter's proposal would defeat the purpose of using VA disability determinations to grant TPD discharges. The language in proposed § 674.61(d)(1) is identical to the language in current § 674.61(d)(1). Current § 674.61(d)(1) states that “The Secretary may discharge a loan under this section without an application or any additional documentation from the borrower if the Secretary obtains data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showing that the borrower is unemployable due to a service-connected disability.” The language in these final regulations is consistent with the language in the NPRM, and with the language in the current regulations.

The reference to a veteran being unemployable due to service-connected disability derives from the current definition in § 674.51(a)(2) which defines “total and permanent disability as the condition of an individual who has been “determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected disability.” This definition, in turn, derives from the statutory language which states that a borrower is considered totally and permanently disabled if the borrower “has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition” (HEA, Sec. 437(a)(2)).

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter noted that the proposed rule would remove § 682.402(c)(7). That paragraph outlines a borrower's responsibilities after receiving a total and permanent disability discharge. These responsibilities include notification of income and notification of the Secretary if the borrower is no longer disabled. The commenter believed that this paragraph should be retained and similar language provided regarding all of the loan programs that permit TPD discharges. The commenter noted that the VA stipulates that “veterans may have to complete an employment questionnaire once a year for VA to continue to pay [disability] benefits. In the commenter's view, this creates an inconsistency between agencies regarding a verification of a veteran's level of disability and continuing eligibility for disability benefits.

Discussion: We have removed paragraph 682.402(c)(7) because most of the requirements in paragraph (c)(7) relate to income verification, which are no longer a requirement under the final regulations. In addition, because these final regulations expand the circumstances in which a borrower can qualify for a TPD discharge based on an SSA disability determination, a change in SSA disability status is less concerning, because we are allowing more SSA disability statuses to qualify a borrower for a TPD discharge based on an SSA disability determination.

With regard to the VA requiring veterans who are receiving disability benefits to submit an employment questionnaire annually, we note that VA disability benefits are structured differently than TPD discharges. VA disability benefits are ongoing. When the Department grants a TPD discharge, it is one-time event. We do not see a need to replicate VA's process for determining if a borrower continues to qualify for VA disability benefits.

Changes: None.

Comment: A commenter noted an apparent inconsistency between § 674.61(b)(3)(ii) and (b)(3)(vi). The former states that the Secretary determines whether the application “conclusively prove[s]” the disability, but the latter states only that the Secretary determines whether the application “support[s] the conclusion” that the disability qualifies. The commenter believed that “Conclusively proves” is the right standard because a conclusion should be necessary. Mere support toward a conclusion does not determine the result. Also, the same inconsistent language of “support[s] the conclusion” exists at § 682.402(c)(3)(v) and should be changed to “conclusively prove.”

Discussion: We thank the commenter for pointing out the inconsistency in language in sections 674.61(b)(3) and 682.402(c)(3). However, we note that the “conclusively prove” language is the inconsistent language. The other two references to the TPD application in these sections use the phrase “supports the conclusion.”

Changes: We have replaced “conclusively prove” with “supports the conclusion” in §§ 674.61(b)(3)(ii) and 682.402(c)(3)(v) so the language is consistent throughout these sections. We have also replaced the erroneous “conclusively proves” language in 685.213(b)(4)(ii) of the Direct Loan regulations with “supports the conclusion.”

Comments: None.

Discussion: In consultation with SSA, the Department adjusted some language to better conform with how SSA describes those same items. This includes clarifying that the borrower must qualify for SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability. It also means referring to disability reviews as being continued rather than renewed and clarifying that they are scheduled for a certain period instead of being definitively within a certain period. The Department also adopted the formal term of “established onset date” instead of “disability onset date” to better match the appropriate terminology used by SSA. We also noted that the borrower has to qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits based on a compassionate allowance because the NPRM language incorrectly referred to it as a program and did not have the clear link to the SSDI or SSI benefits. None of these changes alter the underlying policies as proposed in the NPRM.

Changes: We have adjusted the language in §§ 674.61, 682.402, and 685.213 to reflect the edits described above as well as other technical changes.

Comments: None.

Discussion: In the NPRM, the Department proposed that a borrower would be eligible for a TPD discharge if they qualify for SSDI benefits or for SSI based on disability, the borrower's next continuing disability review has been scheduled at 3 years, and the individual's entitlement to SSDI benefits or eligibility for SSI based on disability has been continued at least once. This meant that a borrower who has a determination of Medical Improvement Possible (MIP) that is continued as an MIP would be eligible for a discharge. However, upon additional review, the Department has determined that the requirement that the borrower be continued as an MIP is not necessary. Instead, in this final rule the Department has adjusted the requirements to allow a borrower who qualifies for SSDI or SSI benefits based on disability to be eligible for a discharge if the borrower's continuing disability review is scheduled at 3 years. The Department reached this conclusion after reviewing research reports from SSA that we had not seen when drafting the NPRM. In a September 2020 report filed to Congress about its fiscal year 2016 continuing disability reviews, SSA noted that more than 97 percent of adult beneficiaries who were initially assigned the MIP determination are found to still be disabled even after second and later reviews. This includes mailer deferrals, which are medical continuing disability reviews. The fact that all but a very small number of individuals initially assigned the MIP determination have their disability continued upon review suggests that requiring a borrower who receives such a designation to wait for a discharge under the proposal in the NPRM is not outweighed by the possibility of identifying the potentially small number of borrowers who may not have their disability status continued. Accordingly, this change to grant a discharge upon the initial MIP determination best meets the Department's goals of making the TPD process simpler for borrowers to navigate and capture additional circumstances that meet the requirements of the HEA.

Changes: We have adjusted § 674.61(b)(2)(iv)(C)(2), § 682.402(c)(2)(iv)(C)(2), and § 685.213(b)(2)(iii)(B) to note that a borrower is eligible for a discharge upon a determination that they qualify for SSDI benefits or for SSI based on disability and the borrower's next continuing disability review has been scheduled at 3 years.

Closed School Discharge (§§ 674.33(g), 682.402(d), and 685.214)

General Support for Closed School Discharge Regulations

Comments: Many commenters expressed general support for the proposed closed school discharge regulations, including providing automatic discharges after 1 year of closure, noting that these changes will broaden eligibility which will increase the number of borrowers who receive forgiveness, remove administrative burden and complexity for borrowers who have been harmed by a school closure, and simplify the eligibility process while reducing the number of students who are eligible for a discharge yet do not receive one.

Discussion: The Department thanks commenters for their support and agrees with them on the benefits of these changes to closed school discharges.

Changes: None.

General Opposition to Closed School Regulations

Comments: Several commenters expressed a variety of concerns with the proposed closed school discharge regulations. In the view of these commenters, the proposed regulations:

• Do not consider or acknowledge past orderly closures that have been implemented in consultation with and approval from accreditors and state educational agencies.
• Risk being overinclusive due to inaccurate student status data.
• Create incentives for students to reject teach-out options and delay their education.
• May result in unnecessary discharges for borrowers who have every intention of returning to their program of study through an approved teach-out after 1 year.
• May encourage borrowers to take a discharge and then transfer credits.

These commenters recommended:

• Returning to a 3-year period before granting an automatic closed school discharge because many students choose to voluntarily take a break between attending the closed school and the teach-out institution.
• Only allowing those students who were unable to complete their programs because their schools closed to seek closed school discharges.
• Disqualifying a borrower for a discharge if they accept teach-out at another institution or transfers credits.

Discussion: The Department respectfully disagrees with the proposals from these commenters. We believe that the final rules, with the modifications from the NPRM identified later in this section, provide reasonable protections for students who attend closing schools without adding unnecessary burdens to schools. Below we each address each of the components of the comment summary.

With regard to past orderly closures, we disagree that the final rule does not consider this issue. In fact, the conditions that lead to a discharge in this rule better align with what occurs during orderly closures. An orderly closure generally involves an institution doing a combination of teaching out its own students and establishing a teach-out agreement that gives borrowers a clear path to finishing their studies. A borrower who follows either of those paths and finishes would not receive a closed school discharge. Unfortunately, the far more common occurrence is that borrowers face abrupt closures. Under this rule, a poorly managed closure that lacks a teach-out agreement will be more likely to result in discharges for borrowers.

The Department disagrees with the commenters who argued that concerns about the Department's student completion information undercut the rationale for these regulatory changes. The Department is responsible for ensuring that it correctly awards discharges to borrowers who are eligible under the regulations. That is an operational matter and not regulatory. The Department also reminds commenters that it is the institution's responsibility to ensure it is entering accurate data about borrower completion status. The Department issues reminders to schools about this responsibility. In 2012, the Department clarified a series of institutional reporting requirements, including requirements to report student enrollment data even when the student has received Pell Grants but never a FFEL or DL program loan, and even when the student has received Perkins Loans but never a FFEL or DL program loan. While enrollment reporting issues were identified many years ago, those do not affect the regulatory changes, which focus on more recent information.

We also disagree with the argument that this final rule will create incentives for borrowers to take a discharge then simply transfer their credits. First, the requirement in the HEA is that the borrower is eligible for a discharge if they are unable to complete the program because the college closed. The intent is for the student to complete their program at the college they were enrolled in. In this final rule, the Department is also treating programs completed as part of a teach-out or as a continuation at another location of the institution as equivalent to the completion of the program because both approaches are the situations where the program is most likely to be similar to the one the borrower was enrolled in. By contrast, it is incredibly common for borrowers who transfer credits through other means to lose significant numbers of credits. An earlier study of credit transfer by GAO found that very few students transferred credits from private, for-profit colleges and that even when a student moved from one private for-profit college to another, they still lost 83 percent of their credits on average. For students transferring from a private nonprofit college, the average student lost half or more of their credits. The share of credits lost was a little bit better when transferring from public colleges, but those institutions also do not commonly close. Borrowers are thus highly likely to lose at least some credits when transferring colleges. The Department does not see how a borrower who is not able to transfer all their credits to another program and is thus forced to potentially pay to retake a course or pay for additional credits can be viewed as completing the same program.

The Department similarly rejects the suggestions for disqualifying borrowers for discharges if they simply accept a teach-out or transfer. Those borrowers are eligible for discharges under current rules because they did not complete the program. Having the act of transferring or taking a teach-out disqualify a borrower for a closed school discharge would thus be contrary to the statute.

Changes: None.

Discharge Without Application

Comments: Many commenters were generally supportive of the proposed automatic closed school discharge provision after 1 year. Other commenters opposed automatic discharge after 1 year and proposed the Department maintain automatic discharge after 3 years or eliminate the automatic discharge provision entirely. Some of those commenters also argued that the Department did not correctly present statistics in a report from GAO about the extent to which borrowers who received an automatic discharge had defaulted or faced struggles on their loans. Several commenters believed that the proposed regulations were not sufficient to immediately support student loan borrowers that are harmed by the closure of their institutions. These commenters noted that the HEA requires the Secretary of Education to discharge the loans of students who are unable to complete their program due to school closure and proposed granting automatic closed school discharge relief to all students immediately upon a school's closure, regardless of whether the student transfers to another program. One commenter proposed that, as an alternative, the Department should grant automatic closed school discharges to all affected borrowers within 90 days after a school closure. Multiple commenters noted that, while they support automatic discharge provision after 1 year for students that do not complete a teach-out agreement, the Department should further clarify that students who do not accept a teach-out agreement are eligible 1 year post closure.

Discussion: We appreciate the support from commenters for the automatic discharge provision and disagree with those who propose lengthening it to 3 years or eliminating it entirely. As noted by GAO, significant numbers of borrowers do not re-enroll when their college closes. In a September 2021 report, GAO found that 43 percent of borrowers whose colleges closed from 2010 through 2020 did not enroll in another institution or complete their program. As GAO noted, this showed that “closures are often the end of the road for a student's education.”

The data obtained from GAO persuaded the Department that waiting 3 years from closure for issuing automatic discharges is too long. GAO's data found that 52 percent of the borrowers who received an automatic discharge had defaulted, while another 21 percent had been more than 90 days late at some point. Moreover, the majority of those who did default, did so within 18 months of closure. GAO also found that among the borrowers who did transfer, almost half had not finished their program within six years of switching schools. GAO also found that the borrowers who transferred but did not finish had a particularly low closed school discharge application rate.

The high default rates of borrowers who do not re-enroll, especially the significant share defaulting within 18 months of closure, and the low application rates of borrowers who did not complete after enrolling elsewhere convince the Department that there are far too many borrowers missing out of closed school discharges that should be captured by an automatic process. As articulated in the NPRM, setting automatic discharges 1 year after the closure date for borrowers who do not re-enroll affords an opportunity to catch borrowers before they could default.

We agree that the final regulations should provide a more precise timeline for granting automatic closed school discharges. However, we feel that granting such discharges immediately, or 90 days after closure, is too soon. Borrowers need more time to decide on their options, and a borrower who intends to enroll in a teach-out or continue their program at another branch or location of the school may not do so within such a short time frame. As discussed above, we think the 1-year period properly balances giving students time to figure out whether to continue their program at another branch or location of their school or through a teach-out while still helping borrowers before they could default. We have clarified that the closed school discharge will be provided 1 year after closure for a borrower who does not continue the program at another branch or location of their school or through a teach-out. Prior language had said “within 1 year,” which was too vague.

We also agree that the proposed regulations could better clarify that the automatic closed school discharge applies to borrowers who accept a continuation of their program at another branch or location of their institution or a teach-out if they do not ultimately finish that continuation or teach-out. Therefore, in the final regulations, we specify that the automatic closed school discharge will be approved 1 year after the date of last attendance in the continuation of the program or the teach-out for a borrower who accepts either of those paths but does not complete the program.

Changes: We have revised the regulations in §§ 674.33(g), 682.402(d), and 685.214 to specify that an automatic closed school discharge occurs 1 year after the school closure date for borrowers who do not take a teach-out or a continuation of the program. For borrowers who accept a teach-out or a continuation of the program at another branch or location of the school but do not complete the program, their discharge would be done 1 year after their final date of enrollment in the teach-out or at the other branch or location of the school.

Comments: Multiple commenters proposed that the Department implement an automatic 1-year grace period between the school closure date and the date borrowers are entitled to the automatic discharge. These commenters noted that allowing for a 1-year grace period is a less burdensome and more just approach as opposed to requiring borrowers enter repayment for six months and then having the Department refund the borrowers six months later.

Discussion: The Department does not have the legal authority to extend the grace period on repayment. Grace periods are established by statute.

Changes: None.

Teach-Out Plans and Agreements

Comments: Several commenters stated that if the Department does not accept proposed suggestions to provide students with an immediate and automatic discharge after a closure, the Department should consider ways to better address teach-outs. These commenters noted that while teach-out agreements are subject to more stringent requirements than teach-out plans, they still only provide a reasonable opportunity for program completion and do not guarantee that students will be able to transfer all or even a majority of their credits, or access comparably priced programs. These commenters recommended that the Department strike the provisions denying a discharge to students who complete a teach-out plan or agreement. As an alternative, the commenters recommend that the Department strike the provision referring to teach-out plans and limit the exclusion of students who complete teach-out agreements to students who actually complete a comparable program in a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the commenters noted that the Department could limit the exclusion to students who are able to transfer most or all their previously earned credits.

A few commenters recommended that the Department reconsider provisions allowing borrowers to receive a discharge where they did not complete a teach-out because this would sanction institutions that made a good faith effort to provide an alternative for students in the event of a closure. Other commenters argued that still providing discharges for borrowers who moved to another school through a transfer agreement could discourage the creation of such options.

Several other commenters stated the Department must create a strong incentive for schools to provide students with an opportunity to complete their program through an approved teach-out.

Some commenters recommended that the Department clarify the treatment of what happens if a borrower accepts a teach-out agreement but is unable to complete it due to circumstances in which a borrower was subject to an academic, disciplinary, or other “fault” dismissal.

Discussion: Under § 600.2 a teach-out agreement is defined as “A written agreement between institutions that provides for the equitable treatment of students and a reasonable opportunity for students to complete their program of study” in the case of closure. Approved teach-out agreements that provide equitable treatment should not include cases where all or the majority of credits are not accepted, where charges are significantly higher, or the institution conducting the teach-out does not meet necessary licensure and accreditation requirements. The Department believes that the proposal provides necessary protections for students harmed by a closure, and more closely aligns with statutory language. The statute states that a borrower is eligible for a discharge if the student “is unable to complete the program in which such student is enrolled due to the closure of the institution.” The Department believes that if a student continues the program at another branch or location of the school or through an approved teach-out agreement then it is reasonable to treat these as students finishing the program they were enrolled in at the school that closed. These pathways incentivize students to complete their program while providing protections in case they ultimately do not finish. The Department believes the inclusion of teach-out agreements or continuing the program at another branch or location in consideration of a closed school discharge incentivizes institutions to engage in an orderly closure, which would reduce an institution's potential liability. In the event a student accepts a teach-out agreement or a continuation of the program at another branch or location and finds that the institution is not the right fit or the student is unable to complete the program, the student remains eligible for an automatic discharge 1 year after their last date of attendance because the student was unable to complete their program due to the closure. Additionally, the Department believes that a student being unable to complete a teach-out because of academic, disciplinary, or other fault dismissal, will be an exception and maintains its current proposal.

The Department reminds commenters that the providing of discharges for a borrower who accepts but does not finish a teach-out agreement is not a change from current practice. Under current regulations, a borrower who transfers but then does not finish the program is still eligible for a discharge. However, previously, they were not eligible for an automatic discharge. But as the GAO report mentioned earlier notes, very few of the borrowers who do engage in such a transfer still apply for a discharge. Accordingly, the Department believes keeping the automatic discharge option for those borrowers is appropriate.

The Department disagrees with suggestions to make students ineligible for a discharge if they accept a transfer agreement. The language in the HEA is tied to the borrower's completion of the program. A teach-out or a continuation of the program at another branch or location of the school is designed to be analogous to the program the borrower was in. A transfer agreement does not provide the same protections that a teach-out does, such as requirements around the equitable treatment of students.

Changes: None.

180-Day Lookback Window

Comments: Multiple commenters expressed support for changes that extend the period that a borrower who withdraws from a closed school is eligible to receive a discharge from 120 days to 180 days. One commenter noted that the extension provides needed additional time and builds in consistency across loan types. Several commenters opposed extending the lookback window to 180 days. The reasons for opposing the extension include that doing so provides too much uncertainty, a 180-day window should only occur when a borrower can demonstrate harm, and that 180 days is too long and allows discharges with no causal connection to why they did not finish. Some of these commenters suggested a 120-day lookback window would be more appropriate. While several commenters supported the change, these commenters suggested that the Department should lengthen the lookback window to 1 year and to make extending it further mandatory where extenuating circumstances are present. The commenters noted that a 1-year lookback window helps better protect students and is less burdensome to administer because the reality of school closures is that they typically occur after a sustained period of systemic failures in the administration of the institution.

Discussion: The Department appreciates the support for the 180-day lookback window and believes that it strikes the proper balance between capturing students who may have seen that a school was heading toward closure, without providing so long a period that a departure may be entirely unconnected to a closure. The Department notes that all loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, already have access to a 180-day lookback window so this is not a change for new loans going forward. While many institutions announce their ultimate closure with no warning, there are almost always warning signs along the way that an institution may be struggling or facing potential adverse actions that could either put its title IV aid at risk or result in it losing accreditation—two conditions that may affect an institution's decision to close. A 120-day lookback window would not provide enough protection for borrowers in case there is a decline in quality over the final academic year of an institution's operation. A 180-day lookback window is half a calendar year and will encompass a final term for an institution that operates on a semester basis. This allows that if a borrower was concerned about a school's situation in the final term in which it is in operation and decided to leave, their departure could be captured for a closed school discharge. The Department also reminds commenters that the Secretary retains the flexibility to extend the lookback window under exceptional circumstances in the more limited cases where going back further than 180 days may be warranted because of other significant events indicating a trajectory toward closure and in consideration of a precipitating events impact on student enrollment.

Changes: None.

Exceptional Circumstances

Comments: Several commenters expressed support for the exceptional circumstances provisions in the NPRM. One commenter recommended the inclusion of additional exceptional circumstances in the final regulations. The commenter recommended adding to the list of exceptional circumstances evidence of material reductions in instructional expenses or student services by the institution which the commenter believed could be indicative of an institution's disinvestment in its students and programs and be predictive of a future closure. The commenter also recommended adding an institution's placement on heightened cash monitoring under § 668.162(d)(1) (known as HCM1) if that status was not resolved prior to closure. The commenter noted that while an institution could be placed on HCM1 for a variety of reasons, some of those reasons are extremely serious, such as “severe” findings in a program review or by the institution's auditor. The commenter believed that including HCM1 on the list of “exceptional circumstances,” would provide the Department with an impetus to consider the reasons why an institution was placed on HCM1 and would still provide the Department flexibility to choose not to extend the look-back window if the reasons for HCM1 do not rise to a sufficient level of concern. In addition, the commenter recommended that the Department also consider including placement on the reimbursement payment methodology, as defined in § 668.162(c), as one of the factors on the list of “exceptional circumstances” since that is a significantly more serious financial responsibility status than HCM2. The commenter also believed that the Department should consider cases in which a majority of the students attending an institution might be affected by a program discontinuation. The commenter noted that there may be circumstances in which a significant share of programs might not have closed at an institution, but that a small number of programs which include the majority of students at that institution might be discontinued, which should rise to the level of an “exceptional circumstance.” Therefore, the commenter encouraged the Department to add the situation of when a majority of the students attending the institution might be affected by a program discontinuation as an exceptional circumstance. Finally, the commenter recommended that the Department consider instances where an institution makes misrepresentations regarding its financial health to students, shareholders, or any government agency.

A few commenters recommended that the Department ensure the lookback window includes whenever a closing school announced its intentions to go out of business because schools can avoid liability by announcing that they will close more than 180 days in advance. One commenter pointed out that schools may publicly announce that they are going out of business up to a year before school closure and that such an announcement should be included as an exceptional circumstance.

Multiple commenters proposed making the extension of the lookback window automatic at the sign of the first occurrence of any exceptional circumstance. These commenters cited evidence that the Department has not always extended the window even though it has had the ability to do so.

Finally, several commenters opposed the additional list of exceptional circumstances and proposed the Department omit the proposal while others proposed that the Secretary should be required to include a rationale to demonstrate how a triggering event harmed the withdrawn student before approving a discharge based on exceptional circumstance. One commenter suggested that the Department should not include or expand the Secretary's exceptional circumstance authority, specifically identifying instances where schools are placed on probation by their accreditor because schools are often placed on probation and these statuses do not show sufficient legitimate risk of closure.

Discussion: The “exceptional circumstances” provisions are intended to allow the Secretary the flexibility to extend the lookback window as the Secretary deems necessary. The Department does not believe that every example of an exceptional circumstance included on the list would apply to every school closure or be related to the eventual closure in every instance. Therefore, we do not believe that exceptional circumstances should be automatic or that the regulations need to include more specificity as to the conditions under which the Secretary may extend the lookback window. Similarly, the examples provided under exceptional circumstances are just that—illustrative examples. The list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of circumstances or a list that will apply in every instance of a closed school discharge, and the Department sees no value in adding additional items to the list or providing additional clarity on when the Secretary will rely on an exception to extend the window. We note that the Secretary may take the recommended additional “exceptional circumstances,” as well as other circumstances not enumerated here, into consideration in determining that it is necessary to extend the 180-day lookback window. In addition, in cases that involve misrepresentation to students, it may be more appropriate for the borrower to pursue relief under the BD regulations. Finally, we note that in deciding to extend the 180-day lookback window, the Secretary will consider an event's impact on students in deciding to execute an extension.

We disagree with the commenters that proposed further limitations on the exceptional circumstances authority. The circumstances behind institutional closures will vary, and it is important to preserve flexibility for the Secretary to acknowledge situations that are exceptional.

Changes: None.

Closure Date

Comments: A few commenters expressed concern with the proposed regulations under §§ 674.33(g)(1)(ii)(A), 682.402(d)(1)(ii)(A), and 685.214(a)(2)(i) that would specify that, for purposes of a closed school discharge, a school's closure date is the earlier of the date that the school ceases to provide educational instruction in most programs, as determined by the Secretary, or a date chosen by the Secretary that reflects when the school had ceased to provide educational instruction for most of its students. These commenters believed that under the proposed regulations a school that was still providing educational instruction and still had enrolled students could be considered a closed school for discharge purposes, without consideration of whether students could complete. A few commenters proposed that the Department withdraw the proposed definition of closure date or offer additional clarity. Other commenters recommended that the Department provide a clear and singular definition of “closure date.”

Other commenters recommended that the Department clarify the meaning of “most programs” and “most of its students” in § 685.214(a)(2)(i) and clarify whether the Department will employ any thresholds for these determinations. Still other commenters recommended that the Department clarify the preamble language in the NPRM stating that the provisions will not apply to small institutions that remain open but that close “a program or two.” These commenters stated that the preamble language is too imprecise. A few commenters recommended that the Secretary consult with accreditors and the State to make determinations of closure on a case-by-case basis. Others requested that the Department clarify the language and include it as regulatory text in the final regulation. Some commenters also asked that the Department not treat an institution that is conducting an internal teach-out as an instance of trying to adjust the closure date to avoid the lookback period.

Discussion: We agree that the proposed language could lead to confusion. The language was only intended to establish a closure date for a school that has ceased overall operations. A school that has remained open would not be considered a closed school. The Department has clarified the language to state that, if a school has closed, its closure date for purposes of determining the beginning date of the 180-day lookback window, would be the earlier of: the date, determined by the Secretary, that the school ceased to provide educational instruction in programs in which most students at the school were enrolled, or a date determined by the Secretary that reflects when the school ceased to provide educational instruction for all of its students. This language is important to protect against a situation where an institution could intentionally keep a single, small program open long enough to avoid the 180-day lookback window, otherwise denying closed school discharges to borrowers.

Regarding the terms “most programs” and “most of its students,” these terms are referring to dates “determined by the Secretary” or “chosen by the Secretary.” Since these dates are established by the Secretary at the Secretary's discretion, there is no need to provide a specific definition of the word “most” for the purpose of these regulations. However, the revisions to §§ 674.33(g)(1)(ii)(A), 682.402(d)(1)(ii)(A), and 685.214(a)(2)(i) further clarify that changes to the closure date need to be tied to an institution that did cease operations should address many of the commenters' concerns.

Regarding the internal teach-out, these often are only offered to a small subset of students and finish after the closure date. The borrowers who finish through an internal teach-out would not be eligible for a closed school discharge since they completed their program at the institution.

Changes: We revised §§ 674.33(g)(1)(ii)(A), 682.402(d)(1)(ii)(A), and 685.214(a)(2)(i) as described above.

Terms in Need of Further Clarification

Comments: A few commenters believed that the proposed regulations contained several undefined or weakly defined terms for key aspects of the closed school discharge regulations. Commenters recommended that the Department more effectively address and define “closed school” as it applies to approved additional locations of an institution that has not closed.

Commenters recommended that the Department clarify what the Department considers a “significant share of its academic programs” in § 685.214(h)(9). Commenters requested that the Department specify whether a significant share means 50 percent or more of an institution's programs were discontinued, or whether a higher threshold must be met before the Department would consider it an exceptional circumstance for purposes of extending the 180-day lookback period.

Discussion: Regarding the treatment of additional locations, the regulations define “school” as a school's main campus or any location or branch of the main campus, regardless of whether the school or its location or branch is considered title IV eligible. The only difference between this definition and the definition in the current closed school discharge regulations is the addition of the term “title IV” before the term “eligible” which adds clarity to the definition. The Department has intentionally defined school in this manner in the closed school discharge regulations because the Department's longstanding policy is that when an additional location closes, that additional location is treated as a closed school for the purposes of a closed school discharge, regardless of whether the main campus stays open. The eligibility for the closed school discharge only applies to that location, though. In other words, a closure of an additional location does not make students who attended other locations eligible for a closed school discharge. The one exception to this is when the main campus closes, in which case the closure is treated as the closure of the entire institution.

The term a “significant share of its academic programs” is used in connection with exceptional circumstances that may justify an extension of the 180-day lookback window, as determined by the Secretary. Since the determination to extend the lookback window is at the Secretary's discretion, the Secretary would determine whether a school has discontinued a significant share of its academic programs.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters opposed the Department's proposal to define a borrower's program as multiple levels or classification of instructional program (CIP) codes if the school granted a credential in one program while the student was enrolled in a different program. Other commenters supported the proposal, emphasizing concerns that some bad actors have historically awarded retroactive degrees to prevent the amount of closed school discharge a borrower might be entitled to, and further limiting potential liabilities to the institution.

Discussion: Under the definition in the final rule, the Secretary may define a borrower's program as multiple levels or CIP codes if:

• The enrollment occurred at the same institution in closely proximate periods;
• The school granted a credential in a program while the student was enrolled in a different program; or
• The programs must be taken in a set order or were presented as necessary for borrowers to complete to succeed in the relevant field of employment.

Just because a school offers stackable credentials does not mean the Department would automatically apply this provision. Rather, it gives the Secretary flexibility to guard against closing schools that may award credentials inappropriately, to prevent students from qualifying for closed school discharges.

Changes: None.

Comparable Programs

Comments: Many commenters supported removing the “comparable program” exclusion because it provides needed additional time for students that may withdraw prior to closure and provides greater consistency across loan types. Some of these commenters noted that the comparable program exclusion has prevented borrowers who were harmed by their school from obtaining needed relief.

Other commenters opposed the elimination of comparable program from consideration. Some of these commenters stated that eliminating consideration of transfer would incentivize borrowers to take a closed school discharge and then transfer the credits they have earned, resulting in a windfall for the borrower. These commenters stated that the Department should incentivize students to transfer and complete regardless of whether there is a formal teach-out agreement, and that the Department should encourage teach-outs rather than discharges.

One commenter noted that, under the Department's determination of closure, a student who lives in close proximity to a campus that takes courses online and is able to successfully complete the program in which they are enrolled would still be eligible for a discharge and states that this is irreconcilable with the HEA since the student would be able to complete their program.

Discussion: The Department is concerned that the current treatment of borrowers who transfer or accept a teach-out is overly confusing and that borrowers do not understand that if they do not complete a comparable program, they are still eligible for a discharge. As a result, borrowers who should be eligible because they transfer and do not complete often never apply for a closed school discharge.

The final rule places a greater emphasis on completion in determining who is ineligible for a closed school discharge. Students that continue, but do not complete, their program maintain eligibility for automatic discharge. This addresses the aforementioned concerns about low application rates for students that transfer and do not finish.

In reviewing the amendatory text for closed school discharges, and in light of the concerns raised about how borrowers who enroll in an online program at the same institution could be affected, the Department is further clarifying the way discharge eligibility would work. In continuing with the policy in the NPRM, a borrower who accepts and completes a teach-out approved by the accrediting agency and, if applicable, the school's State authorizing agency, would not be eligible for a discharge because such an arrangement is designed to give the borrower an opportunity to finish their program. In keeping with existing practice, a borrower who accepts the teach-out but does not finish would maintain access to the discharge, but this rule would give them an automatic discharge 1 year after their last date of enrollment in the teach-out.

In the final rule, the Department has amended the language that previously related to a teach-out performed by the closing institution to instead say a continuation of the program at another branch or location of the school. This means that if a borrower transfers to another branch or location of the same school and finishes the program, they too would lose access to the discharge on the grounds that they did finish their program. Similar to the teach-out, a borrower would receive an automatic discharge 1 year after their last date of attendance if they accept but do not finish the program continuation at another branch or location of the school. This acknowledges that even though the borrower continued their program, they may have decided the continuation did not work for them, such as they did not like moving from a ground-based to online option or the other location was too far away.

The Department declines to put other transfer arrangements, or a transfer done by the student on their own, that leads to them completing on the same footing as a teach-out or continuation of the program at another branch or location of the school. Such options do not have the same protections for the borrower in terms of program similarity. They also open up issues, such as determining what share of credits have to transfer to have that completion elsewhere count as the same program. The Department is concerned about denying the possibility of an automatic discharge to a borrower who transfers with minimal to no help from their original school and essentially starts over. The teach-out and continuation paths identified by the Department best align with the concept in the HEA about giving closed school discharges to borrowers who are unable to complete their programs by defining the instances in which what the borrowers finish are most likely to be the same program.

Changes: We have revised §§ 674.33(g), 682.402(d), and 685.214(c) to clarify that a borrower who continues the program at another branch or location of the school would receive a discharge 1 year after their last date of attendance at the branch or location if they do not complete the program. We have removed the references to a teach-out provided by the school.

Operational Considerations

Comments: Commenters recommended that the Department clarify how the Department proposes to operationalize automatic closed school discharges, especially given the proposed language regarding the assessment of closed school discharge liabilities against open institutions.

Commenters also recommended that the Department clarify how it would control for third-party reimbursement in the context of automatic closed school discharges.

Commenters suggested that the Department administer the closed school survey the Department used in the past to determine whether a closed facility truly is a closed school for purposes of the final regulations.

Commenters requested that the Department outline the number of automatic closed school discharges we have issued and the process to notify the Department of the expiration of a borrower's 1 year period prior to eligibility.

One commenter noted the Department will have to improve its data collection process from institutions and accreditors to implement the closed school discharge process.

Discussion: We thank the commenters for their recommendations. However, we do not believe that it is necessary to modify the regulations as requested. The operational process for automatic closed school discharge is under development and will be in place by the effective date of these regulations. At present, the Department does not plan to administer the closed school survey.

With respect to the potential assessment of liabilities for closed school discharges against open schools, there is no change to existing Department policy. The Department has clarified the definition of closure date to capture that this would only apply when a school has in fact closed. Longstanding Department policy is that if a school closes a branch campus or additional location, the borrowers at that campus or location do become eligible for closed school discharges, and if the school maintains other locations the ones that are still operating can face the liabilities associated with those discharges.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters asked about an internal document that the Department uses to determine whether we consider a school to be closed. The Department stated in the NPRM that the document would appear in Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Handbook. Commenters requested that it be released before the release of that volume of the Handbook, since Volume 2 has historically not been released until the February after the start of the award year. In the commenters view, this means that institutions will not be aware of the Department's closed school criteria until six months after the regulations are effective.

Discussion: The Department believes it is important to first publish the document in the FSA Handbook so that all the relevant resources are available. We note that, under our traditional schedule, Volume 2 of the Handbook will be published before the effective date of the closed school discharge regulations. We also note that an older version of the chart was published during the negotiated rulemaking sessions.

Changes: None.

Institutional Liabilities

Comments: A few commenters expressed the concern that the proposed changes fail to provide any procedural protections for institutions or their affiliates or principals to allow them to present evidence to defend against an application or recoupment. Commenters argued that the proposed changes to pursue liabilities against affiliated persons violate PPA rules.

Discussion: The Department has been evaluating closed school discharge applications for many years and does not believe that an adversarial process is needed for borrowers to qualify for closed school discharges. However, for the Department to hold a school liable for a closed school discharge, the Department would have to initiate an administrative process against the institution under 34 CFR part 668 to establish the liability. Additionally, the Department disagrees that pursuing liabilities against affiliated persons where applicable is in violation of existing rules. It is a statutory requirement in the HEA, which in Sec. 438 states the Secretary “shall subsequently pursue any claim available to such borrower [who received a closed school discharge] against the institution and its affiliates and principals or settle the loan obligation pursuant to the financial responsibility authority under subpart 3 of part H.”

Changes: None.

Efforts To Assist Borrowers

Comments: Commenters recommended that the Department remove the revocation and denial provisions relating to reinstatement of a borrower's discharged loans for failure to cooperate in subsequent actions against their schools. The NPRM included proposed technical changes to § 685.214(e), which requires that a borrower cooperate with the Secretary in any judicial or administrative proceeding against the borrower's school. If the borrower fails to provide requested testimony, documents, or a sworn statement, the Secretary revokes the discharge or denies the borrower's application for relief. Commenters believed that borrowers who have suffered from a school closure, and in many cases suffer economic instability and other hardships, may have justifiable reasons for not responding to a mail or email communication from the Department that may follow weeks, months or even years after the borrower receives a discharge.

Discussion: The requirements that a borrower who has received a closed school discharge must cooperate with enforcement actions taken by the Department are a longstanding feature of the existing closed school discharge regulations. As the commenter notes, we are only making minor technical changes to these provisions. The Department believes that these provisions are an important tool for recouping closed school discharge liabilities from schools.

Changes: None.

Comments: Multiple commenters suggested additional measures to assist borrowers affected by closing schools, through the disclosure of information such as:

• Mandating that the institution provide borrowers with notices informing them of their rights shortly after announcing that the institution will close.
• Requiring institutions to explicitly share their accreditation probation status.
• Displaying warnings relating to possible school closures prominently on a school's website.
• Delivering warnings of possible school closures electronically to admitted and enrolled students.
• Setting up lines of communication with borrowers to inform them about the status of their application and other options for continuing their education.
• Requiring that an institution inform the Department it will close concurrently with its public announcement of closure.

Discussion: We appreciate the recommendations for additional steps the Department may take to assist borrowers in closed school situations by providing additional information. Many of these recommendations relate to activities that we believe are better addressed through guidance to closing schools and direct communication with borrowers, rather than as regulatory requirements. Similarly, we believe that recommendations regarding the operational activities of the Department are better addressed through the Department's procedural rules, rather than through regulations. The Department notes that institutions are already required to share a probation status issued by their accrediting agency.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters recommended that the Department extend the November 1, 2013, automatic discharge date backwards to open the door to automatic relief for more borrowers and include information about what the process for discharge may look like for individuals who are entitled to a discharge prior to 2013.

Discussion: In the NPRM, as in these final regulations, there is no cut-off date for eligibility for an automatic closed school discharge. The process for closed school discharges before November 1, 2013, and on or after November 1, 2013, will not be substantially different.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter recommended reimbursing a borrower who has received a closed school discharge for loan payments that the borrower has already made, not just discharging the remaining balance on the loan.

Discussion: The closed school discharge regulations already provide for refunds or payments made by the borrower on the loan which is subject to a closed school discharge. Section 685.214(b) of the Direct Loan regulations specifies that a closed school discharge relieves a borrower of any past or present obligation to repay a loan and qualifies a borrower for reimbursement of payments made voluntarily or through enforced collections.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters stated that they believe that the Department does not possess the authority to promulgate a regulatory discharge structure based upon the statutory language. In the view of the commenters, the statute provides clear direction: borrowers are entitled to a closed school loan discharge when they are unable to complete their program due to the closure of the school. Automatic discharges, look-back periods, and other features of the closed school discharge regulations are not provided for in the statute. Commenters also expressed the concern that the Department's stated intent to increase the number of closed school discharges does not find support in the statute.

Discussion: As noted above, Sec. 410 of GEPA provides the Secretary with authority to make, promulgate, issue, rescind, and amend rules and regulations governing the manner of operations of, and governing the applicable programs administered by, the Department. Further, under Sec. 414 of the Department of Education Organization Act, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as the Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to administer and manage the functions of the Department. These general provisions, together with the provisions in the HEA, authorize the Department to promulgate regulations that govern closed school discharge standards, process, and institutional liability. To streamline and strengthen the closed school discharge process, we believe it is critical that the Department proceed now in accordance with its statutory authority, as delegated by Congress, to finalize these regulations that protect student loan borrowers while also protecting the Federal and taxpayer interests.

Changes: None.

False Certification Discharges (§§ 682.402(e), 685.215(c) and 685.215(d))

Comments: Many commenters supported the proposed regulations that would streamline the false certification discharge process. In particular, commenters supported establishing standards that apply to all claims regardless of when the loan was first disbursed; removing the provision that any borrower who attests to a high school diploma or equivalent does not qualify for a false certification discharge; expanding the types of documentation the Department considers when a borrower applies for a false certification discharge; and enabling groups of borrowers who experienced the same behavior from their institutions to apply together.

Discussion: We thank the commenters for their support.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters asked the Department to provide that institutions are not liable for discharged amounts if the borrower submits to the school a written attestation that the borrower has a high school diploma or equivalent. Commenters also expressed concerns that granting false certification discharges due to a disqualifying condition may preclude students from receiving student loans since the need to scrutinize and evaluate disqualifying conditions would place a burden on institutions to rely on background checks to avoid liability. Additionally, several commenters suggested that a student must be required to attest they do not have a disqualifying condition or institutions can only be liable if a student reported the condition but the institution still certified the loan. A few commenters recommended specifying the implementation time frame for these regulations and whether the Department would place retroactive requirements on the institution for prior periods. Numerous commenters requested clarification on the change from disbursement date to origination date.

Discussion: These final regulations are intended to ensure that a borrower can receive a false certification discharge if the borrower was coerced or deceived by their school and had reported not having a valid high school diploma or equivalent. A written attestation indicating that the borrower had a high school diploma or its equivalent would not necessarily relieve a school of liability for a false certification discharge. However, for the Department to hold a school liable for the discharge, the Department would have to go through an administrative process under part 668, subpart H to establish the liability.

The Department notes that the disqualifying condition criteria for a false certification discharge are well established in the existing regulations. These eligibility criteria are under current§ 685.215(a)(1)(ii). The Department is making no changes to the regulatory text in this section. Schools should already comply with this regulation.

The requirements specified in these final regulations will apply to false certification discharge applications received on or after the effective date of these regulations. The effective date for these regulations is discussed under DATES above.

Relying on the disbursement date instead of the origination date allows institutions time to remedy an already completed false certification that a student was eligible for a loan. Utilizing the origination date will ensure that institutions may be held accountable for their misconduct even if it is subsequently corrected prior to disbursement.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters recommended that only State attorneys general be allowed to submit applications for group false certification discharges, consistent with the accompanying BD regulations. These commenters further stated that since the Department has decided not to allow legal services representatives to submit group BD applications, the same should apply for false certification discharge. Other commenters suggested the Department should require some procedure to ensure accountability from State attorneys general and legal aid organizations. Alternatively, one commenter recommended that state authorizing agencies be added to the list of entities eligible to request group claims. Several commenters asked the Department to clarify how the Department will process group claims, including appropriate due process protections for institutions subject to such claims.

Discussion: The Department has existing authority to grant group false certification discharges and has done so in the past. Group discharges are particularly useful for borrowers who attended the same school and who attest to similar violations for which there is common evidence that would allow for a discharge for a group of borrowers. Unlike BD discharges, which have been well-publicized in the media in recent years, many borrowers do not know of their right to apply for a false certification discharge. An opportunity for a group discharge is particularly important for these borrowers. In addition, the regulatory language providing for a group discharge will make it less difficult for a borrower advocate to compel action on the part of the Department, because it will specifically require the Department to act on a group discharge application from a State attorney general or a nonprofit legal services representative. The Department also notes it updated the BD regulations to allow nonprofit legal assistance organizations to also submit requests for group consideration. Regarding accountability for State attorneys general or nonprofit legal services, the Department notes that we have no regulatory authority over such entities. However, group claims submitted to the Department will be reviewed and either approved or denied based on the merits of the claim, as with claims submitted by individual borrowers. The due process rights of all parties will be respected. As noted earlier, any attempt to assess liabilities against an entity through a group claim will be subject to the process in part 668, subpart H. Finally, the Department recognizes the specialized expertise of State attorneys general and nonprofit legal services representatives in help borrowers understand their rights to apply for false certification discharges. The Department encourages other entities with knowledge of facts that would support potential group claims to work directly with State attorneys general or nonprofit legal services representatives.

Changes: None.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) (§ 685.219)

Comments: Many commenters expressed support for the proposed PSLF regulations, including the revised definitions, expansion of eligibility, payment counting flexibility, automation, and reconsideration. Commenters recommended the Department continue to streamline PSLF requirements where possible. A few commenters submitted technical corrections and recommendations. Several commenters further stated that the Department should prioritize the swift implementation of the regulations. Other commenters stated that eligibility for PSLF should not be expanded because of the cost to taxpayers.

Discussion: We thank the many commenters who wrote in to support our efforts to improve the PSLF program. Generally, we do not address technical or other minor changes or recommendations that are out of the scope of this regulatory action or that would require statutory changes. Cost impacts will be discussed in the Regulatory Impact Analysis section.

Section 482(c) of the HEA states that any regulatory changes initiated by the Secretary that have not been published in final form by November 1 prior to the start of the award year shall not become effective until the beginning of the second award year after such November 1 date. Consistent with the Department's objective to improve the implementation of PSLF, the Secretary intends to exercise his authority under section 482(c) to designate the simplified definition for full-time employment in PSLF as a provision that an entity subject to the provision may, in the entity's discretion, choose to implement prior to the effective date of July 1, 2023. The Secretary may specify in the designation when, and under what conditions, an entity may implement the provision prior to the effective date. The Secretary will publish any designation under this subparagraph in the Federal Register .

The Secretary does not intend to exercise his authority to designate any other regulations in this document for early implementation. The final regulations included in this document are effective July 1, 2023.

Changes: None.

Qualifying Employer and Definitions

Comments: Several commenters suggested that we expand eligibility for PSLF to include labor union employees; veteran service organizations; medical interns, residents, and fellows; marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and professional counselors; attorneys providing public services and critical public defense services; Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers; Fulbright English Teaching Assistants; translators and interpreters; and those working in national laboratories and nonprofit organizations, whether religious or not, if they file an annual tax-exempt IRS Form 990. One commenter recommended that the Department deem periods of service as a caregiver under the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers to be eligible service for PSLF purposes.

One commenter requested that PSLF eligibility expand to include an option for servicemembers to transfer PSLF eligibility to their married spouse.

Another commenter encouraged the Department to include the Federal Job Corps program as a qualifying employer because its mission and services meet the definition of public service. Job Corps members are engaged by the U.S. Department of Labor to manage the operation of Job Corps campuses and deliver services.

Additional commenters suggested that the Department add Certified B Corporations and Public Benefit Corporations to the list of qualifying employers.

Another commenter encouraged the Department to include specific guidance that Federal Reserve Banks are qualifying employers.

Discussion: The Department is responding to the comments about eligibility for certain occupations solely in the context of eligibility if a borrower provides these services at a private nonprofit organization. Many commenters asked the Department to consider these occupations for borrowers who work at private for-profit organizations as well. The Department will publish a separate final rule addressing the questions of eligibility for borrowers employed by private for-profit entities. This includes the discussion of early childhood education and all other occupations, including the ones mentioned in this comment summary. This final rule does not speak to the issue of any changes to the eligibility of private for-profit employers to serve as qualifying employers for the purposes of PSLF. It does address a related yet different question, which is whether a private nonprofit or government employer should be able to treat a contractor as if they are an employee or employed by that qualifying employer. That is a different issue, as it is only focused on who is considered an employee of a nonprofit or government employer, rather than the overall question of which employers qualify.

From the initial years of the PSLF program, the Department's regulations have established eligibility for PSLF based on whether the borrower works for a qualifying employer, not their specific job. As a result, anyone doing the jobs mentioned by the commenters while employed at a qualifying employer was eligible for PSLF. Borrowers are not permitted to transfer their PSLF eligibility to their spouse for any reason, which includes active-duty military employment. Under the Sec. 455(m) of the HEA, a borrower must work for a qualifying employer to be considered for PSLF. Eligible not-for-profit organizations include an organization that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a not-for-profit organization that is not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, but that provides a qualifying service. However, the Department's regulations have consistently provided that a labor union is not a qualified employer for PSLF purposes. Labor unions are not 501(c)(3) organizations, nor do most of their full-time equivalent employees provide a qualifying service.

Job Corps is a program offered to young adults that is intended to improve the quality of their lives through vocational and academic training aimed at gainful employment and career pathways. Individuals participating in Job Corps programs are not employees of the program. To the extent any Job Corps participants work for a private for-profit employer, that issue will be addressed in the future final rule.

We have modified some definitions and added other definitions to provide additional clarity to the types of services that employers must provide to be considered a qualifying employer.

We will address Certified B corporations and public benefit corporations that are private for-profit employers in the future final rule.

We appreciate the comment requesting clarification on the inclusion of Federal Reserve Banks as qualifying employers for the purposes of PSLF. Employees who work at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board are considered government employees and qualify for PSLF. We will address employees of the Federal Reserve Banks in the future final rule regarding the eligibility of for-profit employers.

The proposed definition of “public health” includes those engaged in the following occupations (as those terms are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics): physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, health care practitioners, health care support, counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists. Therefore, borrowers working in these areas are eligible for PSLF if they work for an eligible employer. Borrowers working for a private for-profit employer will be addressed in the future final rule.

Attorneys providing public interest legal services and critical public defense services are eligible for PSLF if they are employed by an organization that is funded in whole or in part by a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government. As noted above, any further discussion of eligibility for private for-profit employers will be discussed in a future final rule.

Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers have always been and continue to be qualified for the purposes of PSLF.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter suggested that the Department is required to determine PSLF eligibility based on either a qualifying employer or a qualifying job, as those employers and jobs are defined in the statute.

Discussion: After the addition of PSLF to the HEA in 2007, the Department engaged in negotiated rulemaking to develop proposed regulations to implement the program. During that process, the Department reviewed the text and legislative history of the PSLF provision and determined that it was consistent with Congressional intent to focus on the services provided by the qualifying employer rather than on the services provided by the individual employee. To do otherwise would be to have two different standards for different borrowers depending on their type of employer. The negotiating committee agreed with this approach and reached consensus on the proposed rules. The Department has consistently retained that approach since that time. Despite making other changes to PSLF, Congress has not made any statutory changes to require the Department to determine a borrower's eligibility based on the individual employee's activities rather than on the services offered by the employer. Accordingly, the Department does not agree with the comment.

Changes: None.

Comments: Several commenters expressed concern that the proposed definition of the term “non-governmental public service” requires services to be provided directly by the employees. Commenters believe that the inclusion of a “direct service” component is not only undefined in the regulations but is counter to Congressional intent. A few commenters expressed concern that the definition of public service could exclude veteran service organizations and suggested revising the definition to ensure that any definition of “non-governmental public service” include providing services to veterans or their families.

A few commenters suggested that the proposed definitions of “non-governmental public service” and “school library services” should be updated to clarify that employment by a school library or in other school-based services includes employment at public charter schools. Several commenters further argued that the proposed definition of “public service for the elderly” may not encompass all public services that could be provided to elderly individuals and urged the Department to either lower the age for assistance to the elderly or remove a precise age.

Discussion: We believe it is important to define non-governmental public service as services provided by employees of a nonprofit organization where the organization devotes a majority of its full-time equivalent employees to work in at least one of the areas designated in the HEA: emergency management, civilian service to military personnel and military families, public safety, law enforcement, public interest law services, early childhood education, public service for individuals with disabilities and/or the elderly, public health, public education, public library services, school library, or other school-based services. We agree with commenters that the word “directly” does not provide any additional clarity to the definition and will remove it.

Charter schools that are either government entities or tax-exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the IRC are considered qualifying employers for the purposes of PSLF. A nonprofit charter school that does not fit into either of those classifications would be evaluated based on the services it provides. We will address comments related to the eligibility of a private for-profit charter school in a future final rule considering any changes to whether a private for-profit employer can serve as a qualifying employer for PSLF purposes.

In addition, we have clarified the definition of “civilian service to the military” to mean providing services to or on behalf of members, veterans, or the families or survivors of members or veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

We believe that age 62, which is the youngest age for individuals to obtain Social Security retirement benefits, is an appropriate age to use for the purposes of identifying public services to the elderly.

Changes: The Department has removed the word “directly” from the definition of “non-governmental public service.” We reworded the definition of public health in § 685.219 (b).

Comments: A few commenters suggested replacing the term “teacher” in the definitions section of the regulations with the term “educator” to include school psychologists, school counselors, and specialized instructional support personnel who are employed full time by a local education agency under a contract that mirrors a teacher's contract.

Discussion: We believe that the proposed definition of “public education service,” which includes the provision of educational enrichment and support to students in a public school or a school-like setting, including teaching, adequately addresses commenters concerns.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters stated that the definition of “Government employee” should specify that service as a member of the U.S. Congress is not qualifying public service employment for the purposes of this section. Other commenters requested we remove, “as a member of the U.S. Congress is a governmental employee” because this provision does not fit the new definition of “non-governmental public service.”

Discussion: We thank the commenters for this suggestion. The Department does not plan to remove these words or define the term “Government employee” in these regulations. Under Sec. 455(m)(3)(B) of the HEA, service in Congress does not qualify for PSLF.

Changes: None.

Tax Exempt Organizations

Comments: Several commenters stated that 501(c)(1) and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organizations whose purposes and governing documents are consistent with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations should be included as qualifying employers. Other commenters suggested adding a facility defined by sections 1819(a) or 1919(a) of the Social Security Act to the definition of a qualifying employer.

Discussion: We thank these commenters for the suggestions to include 501(c)(1) and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organizations, whose purposes and governing documents are consistent with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations to the Department's definition of qualifying employer. We do not, however, believe there is sufficient basis to automatically qualify any type of 501(c) organization beyond the 501(c)(3) category that Congress specifically included in the statute. We also do not agree that any facility listed under the Social Security Act, such as a skilled nursing facility, should automatically be included as a qualifying employer for the purposes of PSLF.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters stated that religious conduct would receive an unconstitutional financial benefit if religious organizations are considered qualifying employers. These commenters further stated that religious services were rightly previously excluded from PSLF and should continue to be excluded.

Discussion: The Department believes that the current rules do not provide improper aid to religious organizations and are consistent with the Constitution. The current regulations place religious individuals and entities on equal footing with their secular counterparts by allowing such individuals and entities to qualify for the same benefits available to others.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters expressed concerns regarding the revised PSLF definitions and argued that the proposed definition of “non-governmental public service” is contrary to the text and purposes of the HEA. They contended that the requirement that a majority of the employer's full-time equivalent employees be engaged in providing one of the specified services would unlawfully eliminate eligibility for individuals who currently qualify for PSLF.

A few commenters further stated that the proposed definition of “public education service,” which would require public education services to be provided to students in a public school or a school-like setting, deviates from established Department practice in administering and determining PSLF eligibility. These commenters suggested that the Department implement a holistic evaluation of employers to determine PSLF eligibility based on whether the organization and its employees provide a meaningful public service.

One commenter proposed to expand PLSF eligibility to include all those who work to advance the public interest.

Several commenters suggested that the proposed definitions fail to consider the substantial reliance interests of individuals such as the interests of employees who have reasonably relied upon the Department's past and current certification of eligible employment to select jobs that qualify for PSLF; the interests of public service organizations that have relied upon the Department's current interpretation to recruit and retain employees by presenting the organization as a qualifying PSLF employer; and the interests of organizations that currently qualify for PSLF and may continue to do so if the proposed rule goes into effect, but which could subsequently fail to meet the requirements for PSLF due to employee hiring, departures, layoffs, or changes to the organization's structure.

In addition, several commenters stated the Department needs to take further action to clarify employment requirements for nonprofit organizations by explicitly removing any mention of the primary purpose condition, as required by American Bar Association v. U.S. Department of Education.

Discussion: We thank these commenters for expressing concerns about the Department's definition of non-governmental public service. However, we believe requiring an employer to have a majority of their full-time equivalent employees be engaged in providing one of the specified services is consistent with the HEA and will not eliminate eligibility for individuals who currently qualify for PSLF. We also do not believe there is sufficient basis to automatically qualify any type of non-governmental organization beyond the 501(c)(3) category that Congress specifically included in the statute.

The Department reviews other nonprofit employers as it receives employment certifications from their employees. The new regulations will help the Department determine whether the employer provides one of the services specified in the HEA. This will improve the Department's ability to provide guidance to employers and employees alike. We note that there is no requirement that the borrower work for the same qualifying organization for the full 10-year period.

The primary purpose test was at one time used by the Department to determine whether a nonprofit organization which was not a 501(c)(3) organization provided a specific public service so that its employees could qualify for PSLF. The Department has not used this test for several years, nor did we include such a test in the current or proposed regulations; therefore, we cannot remove it.

The Department defines a non-governmental qualified employer as an employer that has devoted a majority of its full-time equivalent employees to working in at least one of the following areas: emergency management, civilian service to military personnel military service, public safety, law enforcement, public interest law services, early childhood education, public service for individuals with disabilities and/or the elderly, public health, public education, public library services, school library, or other school-based services. We believe that the definition of public education service, which requires public education services to be provided to students in a public school or in a school-like setting, is consistent with the Department's current practice in administering and determining PSLF eligibility.

Changes: None.

Full-Time Employment

Comments: Many commenters supported the proposed definition of “full-time” employment that required borrowers to demonstrate they worked at least 30 hours a week across one or more jobs, but also requested we apply a retroactive determination for full-time employment based on the definitions and consideration for part-time employment.

Discussion: We thank the many commenters who supported our proposed change to the definition of “full-time.” We believe the revisions will provide clarity to borrowers seeking PSLF. Applications submitted after the implementation date that include periods of employment that predate the effective date of these regulations will be reviewed under this new definition. Section 455(m) of the HEA requires that borrowers be employed full-time to qualify for PSLF. The Department cannot include part-time employment for the purposes of PSLF unless part-time employment at multiple qualifying jobs adds up to 30 hours per week.

Changes: None.

Comments: Many commenters supported the proposed credit hour conversion to determine full-time employment for adjunct faculty.

Discussion: We appreciate the support of these commenters.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested that to make the calculation of eligibility more equitable for adjunct faculty working at more than one institution with different term lengths, the regulations should be revised to base the determination of the minimum number of hours that need to be attained for PSLF credit using the 3.35 multiplier for each credit or contact hour taught by the faculty member. A few commenters thought the Department should increase the conversion rate.

Discussion: During the negotiated rulemaking process, the Department adopted the 3.35 conversion factor suggested by negotiators. Additionally, we explained that this could apply to contact hours as well. For example, if a borrower was teaching six hours a week and had two office hours a week, this borrower would multiply eight by 3.35 which equals 21 total hours worked per week. This conversion factor is the minimum rate employers should use based upon a semester-hour schedule. Employers would continue to have flexibility to adjust this conversion factor upward or to account for trimesters, quarters, or other types of academic calendars if they think a different figure better captures the number of hours an adjunct professor is working. We also clearly defined “non-tenure track faculty” to eliminate ambiguity. We also defined “full-time” to include working in qualifying employment in one or more jobs for the equivalent of 30 hours per week as determined by the Secretary which qualifies the borrower for PSLF if the borrower is working:

(1) through a contractual employment period of at least eight months over a 12-month period, as in the case of primary and secondary school teachers and professors and instructors in higher education; or,

(2) in the case of non-tenure track faculty employment, by either—

(a) teaching at least nine credit hours per semester, six credit hours per trimester, or 18 credit hours per calendar year; or,

(b) multiplying each credit hour taught per week by 3.35 hours; or

(c) counting student-contact hours as attested by the borrower and substantiated by the employer on a form approved by the Secretary.

(3) When determining whether a borrower works full-time, the Secretary includes vacation or leave time provided by the employer or leave taken for a condition that is a qualifying reason under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1))). We also adjusted the definition of full-time to note that the treatment of teachers on an employment contract being considered to work for 12 months would also apply to instructors in postsecondary education. The original language was a nonexhaustive list, and this change adds clarity.

Changes: We modified § 685.219(b)(i)(B) to include professors and instructors in higher education.

Comments: One commenter suggested the Department allow employers who pay their employees based on caseload (rather than an hourly rate) to certify the employee is working full-time by reporting an average of 30 or more hours on the employer certification form.

Discussion: We thank the commenter for this suggestion. We believe the definitions of “full-time” and “qualifying employer” provide adequate information for the employers to certify whether their employee is working full-time. Under the regulations, an employee must work the equivalent of 30 hours per week to be considered full-time. The employer is able to determine when an employee has met that threshold.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter suggested the Department require self-attestation for the purposes of determining full-time employment. Another commenter expressed concern that some employees who work in public service may not receive a W-2 form and may not be able to prove work in qualifying employment.

Discussion: The Department appreciates the points raised by these commenters. A borrower who does not receive a W-2 would not be eligible for PSLF except, as provided in these final regulations, for a borrower who works as a contracted worker for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services which, under applicable state law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer. We believe that the employer certification, along with other information on the PSLF application, will provide sufficient information to allow the Department to determine a borrower's employment full-time status for the purposes of PSLF.

Changes: None.

Consolidation

Comments: Many commenters supported the Department's proposal to allow borrowers to keep credit toward PSLF when they consolidate their loans. However, several commenters noted that the NPRM was unclear on the process of determining the treatment of consolidation loans for PSLF purposes. Some commenters argued that the Department should allow all loans in a consolidation to receive credit toward PSLF equal to the maximum amount of qualifying payments the borrowers have already made. Other commenters objected to such an approach, noting that it would allow a borrower to consolidate a loan and potentially receive credit for years' worth of payments toward PSLF when in actuality there were few, if any, payments toward PSLF on one or more of the underlying loans. Other commenters suggested the Department allow prior payments made on FFEL Program loans to count toward PSLF.

Discussion: The Department agrees with commenters that the treatment of qualifying payments for PSLF after loan consolidation was unclear. The Department's goal in allowing borrowers to keep any credit they had made toward PSLF is to ensure they keep the progress they made, not to award additional credit toward forgiveness they have not earned. To that end, the Department will award borrowers qualifying payments equal to a weighted average of the loan balances being consolidated. In other words, if a borrower has 60 qualifying payments on a $20,000 loan and consolidates that loan with another $40,000 in loans with no qualifying payments, then the consolidation loan would be assigned 20 qualifying payments ($20,000 divided by $60,000 times 60). The Department believes this approach is better for the borrower than keeping the qualifying payment clock unchanged but only applying it to part of the consolidation loan. To benefit from PSLF a borrower has to spend some time on an IDR plan, since if they stayed on the standard 10-year plan, they would pay the loan off at the same time as receiving forgiveness. Since IDR payments are based on the borrower's income and are only affected by the balance amount on certain IDR plans, if a borrower's payment amount exceeded what they would owe on the standard 10-year plan, partial cancellation may not significantly change their monthly payment amount and the borrower would still have to make as many as 120 additional payments to get the remaining balance forgiven. The Department is unable to accept the changes recommended by the commenters with respect to payments on FFEL loans, because those are prohibited by statute.

Changes: We have amended § 685.219(c)(3) to note that a borrower will receive a weighted average of the payments the borrower made on the Direct Loan prior to consolidating.

Deferment, Forbearance, and Default

Comments: Many commenters supported counting certain periods of deferment and forbearance toward PSLF. These commenters further urged the Department to count all such periods toward PSLF to reduce unnecessary complexity, address administrative failures by student loan servicers, and fulfill the program's goal of alleviating the burden of Federal student loans for borrowers in public service. These commenters also suggested that borrowers should not lose progress toward forgiveness when a servicer pauses a borrower's payments to process paperwork. Additionally, the commenters opined that these borrowers should not be penalized for following bad advice from a servicer or when servicer misconduct occurred. They noted that recent Federal investigations concluded that student loan servicers have steered borrowers into forbearance, made errors during loan transfers, and failed to advise borrowers on IDR plans.

A few commenters further urged the Department to expand the hold harmless provision to count payments for periods of default from previously defaulted borrowers. One commenter suggested we count periods of time spent rehabilitating defaulted loans as time toward forgiveness. Other commenters suggested these individuals should be allowed to make a payment that is equal to or lesser than the amount of the lowest IDR plan at the time, rather than an amount equal to or greater than the amount they would have paid at the time on a qualifying repayment plan. Other commenters advised that the Department strengthen oversight of loan servicers to avoid future forgiveness denials and ballooning debt.

Several commenters shared their experiences with servicers incorrectly putting the borrower into forbearance and detailed other improper servicer actions. Several commenters recommended counting $0 IDR payments during bankruptcy toward PSLF qualifying payments.

One commenter argued that the Department does not have the authority to allow periods of time spent in forbearance or deferment to count as qualifying payments for PSLF.

Discussion: The Department recognizes that there have been past issues with servicing Federal student loans. We have taken steps to address the impact of these servicing errors through the limited PSLF waiver that allows borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. We will also award credit toward PSLF for borrowers who spent 12 or more consecutive months or a cumulative total of 36 or more months of forbearance for those periods of time if borrowers certify qualifying employment, this includes time in the past that servicers have paused payments while processing borrowers' paperwork for extended periods. The Department has created the Fresh Start initiative which provides defaulted borrowers who do not qualify for PSLF a path to get out of default and regain potential eligibility for PSLF.

In the proposed regulations, the Department also expanded the types of forbearances and deferments that qualify for PSLF through these new regulations. Qualifying borrowers are statutorily entitled to deferments and certain forbearances. We have to determine whether the statute requires borrowers to give up these rights to apply for PSLF. After further review of the legislative history and language of the PSLF provisions, we do not see anything which suggests Congress intended to require borrowers to give up their rights to these benefits to qualify for PSLF. As discussed in the NPRM, the Department carefully reviewed the different types of deferments and forbearances and proposed awarding credit for ones where a borrower would likely be either engaged in qualifying employment and thus face a confusing tradeoff of pausing payments or receiving credit toward forgiveness or have a high likelihood of a $0 payment on an IDR plan and thus there would not be a meaningful difference were they to have been enrolled on an eligible IDR plan. Awarding credit for deferments and forbearances beyond the ones identified by the Department would not be appropriate because they could be in situations where the borrower would be required to make a payment greater than $0 on IDR or there's no indication that the individual would otherwise be engaging in qualifying employment. In some cases, such as the unemployment deferment, it would not be possible for a borrower to engage in qualifying employment for PSLF since a borrower cannot receive that deferment if they have full-time job.

The regulations also provide a reconsideration process, which will enable borrowers to request a review of the PSLF status of their employer or the number of qualifying payments.

With respect to time while payments are administratively paused as servicers recalculate payments on an IDR plan or transfer them to the PSLF servicer, the Department agrees with commenters to allow those periods to count toward PSLF, provided the borrower still engages in qualifying service. These forbearances will be captured under § 685.205(b)(9), which is already in the regulations as a type of forbearance that would count toward PSLF. The Department had been concerned about this being a path for borrowers to gain significant credit simply by applying repeatedly. However, the Department is working on changes related to the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act, which will allow borrowers who provide the necessary approval to the Department to automatically recalculate payments every year using data filed to the IRS. Those borrowers are unlikely to see a delay in having their payment account updated. Similarly, under planned improvements to the student loan servicing the Department is planning to eliminate transfers to specialty servicers for programs like PSLF, further reducing the incidence of months paused for administrative reasons.

For all other deferments and forbearances, we have created a hold harmless provision that will allow borrowers who have been encouraged and placed in forbearances for long periods of time to make payments equal to or greater than what they would have paid in order to count that time spent in forbearances as time toward forgiveness. This process is less burdensome than trying to substantiate which periods of deferment or forbearance may be a result of steering or bad advice versus which ones are not. The hold harmless option would allow borrowers to pay what they otherwise would have paid during the time they spent in a forbearance or a deferment and have that time count toward PSLF rather than an amount equal to or greater than the amount they would have paid at the time on a qualifying plan. The Department announced a payment account adjustment in April 2022 that included adjustments to borrowers' accounts for certain deferments prior to 2013 and extended periods of any type of forbearance. Those adjustments will pick up significant periods that might otherwise have been subject to the hold harmless provision. The Department's regulations cannot waive statutory requirements, and the statute is clear that we cannot count time in default toward PSLF and that includes time spent in loan rehabilitation. Borrowers must make 120 qualifying payments to receive credit toward PSLF. Borrowers on IDR plans with a $0 payment remain eligible for PSLF.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters suggested adding a separate Peace Corps deferment instead of having this deferment be included in the AmeriCorps forbearance. Commenters also proposed retroactively counting all service of Peace Corps and returned Peace Corps volunteers regardless of loan status or payments.

Discussion: A borrower may apply for an Economic Hardship deferment based on Peace Corps service which is separate from the AmeriCorps forbearance. Borrowers who are Peace Corps volunteers would likely have a $0 payment under an IDR plan which is a qualifying repayment plan for PSLF; however, they may choose to apply for an Economic Hardship deferment instead and receive credit toward PSLF forgiveness. Typically, AmeriCorps volunteers are working and receiving payment during their service time. Therefore, these borrowers are eligible for a forbearance which counts toward time to forgiveness under these regulations. The Department evaluates each PSLF application to determine if a borrower should receive credit for the months for which they provided information on the form. While we do not retroactively count payments by Peace Corps or returned Peace Corps, PSLF applicants will have a full review and assessment of any period of employment covered by any future application.

Changes: None.

Single Standard, Waiver Expansion, COVID, IDR, and FFEL

Comments: Several commenters expressed concerns regarding the expiration of temporary waivers and the need for a single Federal standard regarding PSLF. These commenters further stated that borrowers will have difficulty navigating multiple standards and the confusion will cause borrowers who are entitled to PSLF benefits not to receive them. Commenters encouraged the Department to retroactively ensure prior qualifying employment and subsequent payments would count toward PSLF qualifying payments.

Several commenters urged the Department to include in the PSLF regulations provisions in the Limited PSLF Waiver that allow borrowers with FFEL loans to have payments on those loans count toward PSLF. These commenters stated FFEL loan borrowers only have a year to take the steps to consolidate into the Direct Loan program and get credit for past payments under the Limited PSLF Waiver and asked the Department to extend the deadline on the limited PSLF waiver. Other commenters noted that to qualify for PSLF, the borrower must make required payments on a Direct Loan; payments on FFEL or Perkins loans do not count toward forgiveness. Several commenters asked that we lower the number of required payments from 120 months to 60 months and one commenter requested we forgive loans based on a percentage rate of 20 percent each year.

A few commenters stated that while borrowers were automatically placed into forbearance with 0 percent interest rates through August 31, 2022, and the time in forbearance is considered counting as payments toward the minimum requirements for forgiveness, the borrower must have maintained full-time employment at a qualifying employer. These commenters contended that this was an unrealistic obligation during the worst public health crisis in 100 years and that many nonprofits had to lay off workers due to the pandemic at no fault of the worker.

Other commenters suggested that any payment under IDR should count toward PSLF if the borrower qualifies for PSLF. These commenters recommended the Department clearly state in regulations that any month that would count toward IDR forgiveness would be counted as qualifying time toward forgiveness for PSLF. Several commenters urged the Department to ensure PSLF regulations align with future proposed IDR regulations.

Discussion: The Department understands the importance of aligning PSLF and IDR regulations and will strive to do so where appropriate. We have adopted some of the benefits provided under the temporary waiver into these regulations, such as allowing payments made on a Direct Loan prior to consolidation to still be counted toward forgiveness after consolidation. There are other places where we have taken a different approach. For instance, the limited PSLF waiver treats any month in repayment as a qualifying payment. The Department cannot change in regulation the statutory requirements that dictate which repayment plans are eligible for PSLF, but we have made changes that will help borrowers count payments they make toward PSLF by allowing partial, late, and lump sum payments to count. Other elements, such as the hold harmless provision, which provides borrowers a recourse of action when servicers either provided misinformation or steered borrowers into extended forbearance, go further than what the limited PSLF waiver provides. Section 455(m) of the HEA requires that borrowers be employed full-time at qualifying employers and make 120 payments to qualify for PSLF. These rules cannot waive statutory provisions or retroactively grant qualifying payments to borrowers prior to the inception of the program. Instead, the purpose of these regulations is to define and clarify the requirements for PSLF. The benefits provided under the waivers and the expiration date for the waivers are separate and apart from these rules. Under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act) (Pub. L. 108-76, 20 U.S.C. 1098bb(b)) authority, the Secretary announced waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory provisions designed to assist “affected individuals.” Under 20 U.S.C. 1098ee(2), the term “affected individual” means an individual who—

• Is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency;
• Is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency;
• Resides or is employed in an area that is declared a disaster area by any Federal, State, or local official in connection with a national emergency; or
• Suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war or other military operation or national emergency, as determined by the Secretary.

Based on this authority and due to the national pandemic, the Secretary has provided a number of waivers to the requirements for the PSLF program and also paused payments, with those months counting toward forgiveness if the borrower has qualifying employment.

Establishing a single standard that includes all benefits of the waivers and merges the new regulations is not feasible because elements of the waiver, such as counting any month in repayment as a qualifying payment regardless of whether a borrower made a payment or their repayment plan or granting credit for payments made on a commercial FFEL loan, can only be provided on a time-limited basis. The Department believes that these rules streamline processes, clearly define new terms, and revise existing terms.

Changes: None.

PSLF Reconsideration and Application Changes

Comments: Several commenters approved of the proposed reconsideration process and recommended that the Department lengthen the time period in which a borrower can request reconsideration beyond the proposed 90 days. These commenters stated that to file a robust reconsideration request, many borrowers will need to access loan and PSLF records from servicers, as well as information from employers of years past. These commenters further claimed that the proposed reconsideration window would be costly and inefficient for the Department, as pushing borrowers to file hasty requests would be likely to lead to unwarranted denials and repeat reconsideration requests.

Other commenters suggested the Department not allow the same servicers to be tasked with reconsideration of any determinations or denials made by that servicer.

Discussion: We appreciate the commenters' support of the opportunity for reconsideration. We believe, however, that many borrowers possess the needed records for reconsideration at the time they submit their initial application or would be able to obtain them and request reconsideration within 90 days. The reconsideration request allows for a review of accuracy because the borrower believes the Department made a mistake or did not have all information necessary to make the correct determination at the time of the initial review. We believe that through the reconsideration process, one of the benefits could be global fixes if the Department identified mass errors in applications that were previously denied.

The regulations do not address how the Department uses its contractors to perform certain roles in the program.

We appreciate the commenters' concern about the costs associated with the regulatory action. We provide detailed information about the costs in the Regulatory Impact Analysis section.

Changes: None.

PSLF Qualifying Payments

Comments: Many commenters suggested that the number of qualifying payments for PSLF should be reduced. Other commenters suggested that the number of qualifying payments should be dependent on the type of institution the borrower attended. A few commenters suggested borrowers should be eligible for PSLF after a specific number of years, rather than after making a specific number of qualifying payments. A few commenters stated the amount or percent of relief should be tied to the number of qualifying payment years. Other commenters stated that all student loans should be forgiven when the borrower meets a specific age threshold. These commenters expressed concerns regarding the duration of student loans and that low-paying public service occupations make it difficult to make other needed payments toward necessities.

One commenter noted that the proposed regulations allow a borrower to request loan forgiveness after making the 120 monthly qualifying payments but expressed concern about the Department allowing for lump-sum monthly payments. The commenter suggested that § 685.219(e)(1) should be revised to clarify that the borrower may request loan forgiveness only after making the 120 monthly qualifying payments and while performing 120 months of qualifying service.

Discussion: The HEA requires that a borrower make 120 months of qualifying payments to receive forgiveness under PSLF. The changes to the number of qualifying payments and time to forgiveness suggested by the commenters would require a statutory change and cannot be accomplished through regulation.

The Department appreciates the comment about the updating the regulations to include the borrower may request loan forgiveness after making both the 120 months of qualifying payments and qualifying service. The Department will amend the regulatory text.

Changes: The Department will amend § 685.219(e)(1) to specify that a borrower may request loan forgiveness after making the 120 months of both qualifying payments and qualifying service.

Eligibility for Physicians Working in Texas and California Hospitals

Comments: Several groups of commenters responded to the Department's directed question related to PSLF eligibility for physicians in States where they are ineligible to work for qualified employers due to State laws, such as those in California and Texas. These commenters stated that qualified California and Texas physicians who work at nonprofit hospitals but are not directly employed by them should have equal access to PSLF like their colleagues in areas that are not impacted by State law.

Other commenters questioned how the Department would be able to establish that physicians in those States were not employees of hospitals exclusively due to State law as opposed to other circumstances when physicians are employed at nonprofit hospitals but are paid by physician groups or work as independent contractors. Other commenters noted that if State law prohibits a public service organization from directly employing a licensed physician, eligibility for loan forgiveness can be demonstrated by a written certification signed by an authorized official of the public service organization. Other commenters noted similar issues such as hospitals not hiring psychiatric pharmacists in States such as Hawaii. One commenter also argued for the inclusion of certified midwives that work for a physician group that provides services to nonprofit hospitals in California.

A few commenters also noted that since physicians are not eligible for PSLF under these arrangements in other states, physicians in Texas and California should not be eligible. Other commenters disagreed with the Department's proposed expansion of the definition altogether.

Discussion: These final rules do not speak to one issue raised by commenters in response to the NPRM—whether and in what circumstances private for-profit employers, including early childhood organizations, should be treated as qualifying employers for the purposes of PSLF. That issue and the responses to comments related to it, will be addressed in a future final rule.

We thank the commenters for their suggestions to expand eligibility for PSLF to certain and distinct contract employees who provide an eligible service for PSLF but are prohibited from being a full-time employee of an otherwise qualifying employer due to State law. The Department is aware of this situation existing for physicians at some nonprofit hospitals in Texas and California, where rules that have been in place for decades prevent their direct employment by the hospital. Other borrowers may be in a similar situation.

Based on the information provided by the commenters, the Department has determined that this situation is distinct from other types of contractual employment. A hospital must have doctors to provide the needed care to carry out its mission, but in this situation the only option is to bring on contractors to fill gaps or expand capacity because the hospital is legally prohibited from pursuing any other staffing model. In these cases, the employer is limited to hiring someone only as a contractor. Congress intended to support certain organizations and their employees by providing PSLF but limited the benefit to employees. These State laws mean that certain borrowers in these States are barred from PSLF solely because of the State law. For the reasons expressed by the commenters, the Department has decided to address this unequal treatment by allowing borrowers in the narrow and specific situation of a borrower who works as a contractor for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services which, under applicable state law, cannot be filled or provided by an employee of the qualifying employer to qualify for PSLF. We believe that this relates to a relatively limited universe of borrowers. This change does not expand the range of qualifying employers, but rather who can be captured under a qualifying employer. Accordingly, in situations such as the one raised by a commenter who works as a certified midwife, eligibility would be based on whether the specific adjustment allowed in this rule also applies to them.

As discussed above, the Department will publish a separate final rule addressing the comments raised concerning allowing private for-profit employers to serve as qualifying employers for PSLF. This rule does not speak to that issue.

Changes: The Department has amended the definition of the term “employee or employed” to include an individual who works as a contracted employee for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services which, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer.

Eligibility for Other Contractors

Comments: A few commenters suggested expanding the definition of employee or employed to mean any individual who is hired and paid by a public service organization, including contractors.

The Department received a range of comments arguing for expanding PSLF to other types of contractual employment relationships beyond the specific case of physicians at certain nonprofit hospitals in Texas or California. These ranged from suggestions for expansions to specific occupations to calls for the inclusion of all borrowers who work as contracted workers at any qualifying organization. Other commenters added that the Department should focus on the service provided and not the employers' status and further stated that private-practice medical practitioners that get reimbursed from Tricare or TriWest (or other qualifying providers) for providing public healthcare for Active-Duty Military and Veterans should get credit. Several commenters urged the Department to include contracted nurses and nurse practitioners as eligible employees for PSLF. Another commenter suggested that we provide clarification that qualifying employers may certify the public service work of contracted employees retroactively.

Many commenters supported extending PSLF eligibility to certain self-employed independent contractors who are working on a full-time basis with a qualifying employer, who are not employed directly by the qualifying employer, and who may receive tax forms with stated profession other than W-2s, including 1099 forms.

Discussion: As discussed above, the Department will publish a future final rule addressing comments related to expanding eligibility of private for-profit organizations to serve as qualifying employers for PSLF. This rule does not speak to that issue. Instead, this response addresses the question of whether there should be other situations when a government or private nonprofit organization can certify the employment of a contractor.

The Department has decided to allow borrowers in the narrow and specific situation of working as contracted workers for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services which, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer to qualify for PSLF. An employee who works under this condition may receive a Form 1099 which would be acceptable instead of a W-2. As the Department explained in its rationale for this limited exception earlier in this document, the reasons that justify allowing this targeted exception do not apply to the use of contractors more generally.

Changes: None.

Comments: Other commenters noted that while there might be some pushback to include contractors and that contractors tend to earn higher salaries, the borrower must be enrolled in the PAYE or IBR plan, which requires financial hardship to be eligible.

Discussion: The Department thanks the commenters for their feedback. Unless a borrower works as a contractor for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services which, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer, employer, the borrower would not be considered working for a qualifying employer for the purposes of PSLF.

Changes: None

Certification and Other Forms

Comments: Several commenters mentioned that qualifying organizations are likely willing to sign PSLF forms on behalf of contractors since they are likely already completing PSLF forms as qualifying employers and often track the number of hours worked for the independent contractors they hire. One commenter argued that they do not believe that a company's willingness to sign a verification form for an employee has practical utility and recommends that the Department use the same approach here as for all other employers. Another commenter requested the Department include contracted public defenders, certified by their local governments, as a qualifying employer and permit employer certification for contracted public defenders. This approach would allow an employee to substantiate their periods of qualifying employment using other avenues of documentation, such as W-2s, if the employer is unwilling to certify employment (or if the employer has closed). The commenter reminded the Department that the Privacy Act of 1974 provides that the Department shall “collect information to the greatest extent practicable directly from the subject individual when the information may result in adverse determinations about an individual's rights, benefits, and privileges under Federal programs.”

Discussion: The Department appreciates the suggestions from the commenters. We are cognizant of the rights of individuals under the Privacy Act of 1974 and take every precaution to protect those rights. We further believe that the PSLF and Temporarily Expanded PSLF certification and application is an appropriate means of collecting information and certifying that a borrower is working full-time at a qualifying employer. Additionally, we determine PSLF eligibility based on the services provided by the employer and not by the individual's specific job or job description. As stated earlier, the Department has permitted the use of Form 1099s in the limited condition described above. The Department will also review borrower's alternate documentation if an employer refuses to certify the certification and application form.

Changes: None.

Early Childhood Educators Who Work for For-Profit Entities

The Department thanks commenters for responding to the questions we asked in the NPRM and for providing comments related to Early Childhood Educators who work for for-profit entities. We received many comments related to the eligibility of Early Childhood Educators who work for for-profit entities as well as suggestions to include employees of for-profit entities in many other occupations as well as removing any limitation on the eligibility of for-profit employers so long as they provide a qualifying service.

The Department is separating this issue for a future final rule because we received significant and detailed comments in response to our questions around the possible treatment of for-profit companies that provide early childhood education as qualifying employers for PSLF. These comments included a number of proposals that address operational, legal, and policy considerations, which the Department needs additional time to consider. That rule will be published after November 1, 2022. These Final Rules do not address this issue.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Under Executive Order 12866, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must determine whether a regulatory action is “significant” and, therefore, subject to the requirements of the Executive Order and subject to review by OMB. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 defines a “significant regulatory action” as an action likely to result in a rule that may—

(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or Tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to as an “economically significant” rule);

(2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency;

(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or

(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the Executive Order.

The Department estimates the quantified annualized economic and net budget impacts to be $71.8 billion in increased transfers among borrowers, institutions, and the Federal Government, including annualized transfers of $7.4 billion at 3 percent discounting and $7.8 billion at 7 percent discounting, and annual quantified costs of $6.3 million related to paperwork burden. Therefore, based on our estimates, OIRA has determined that this final action is “economically significant” and subject to OMB review under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866. Notwithstanding this determination, based on our assessment of the potential costs and benefits (quantitative and qualitative), we have determined that the benefits of this final regulatory action justify the costs.

We have also reviewed these regulations under Executive Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 13563 requires that an agency—

(1) Propose or adopt regulations only on a reasoned determination that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify);

(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into account—among other things and to the extent practicable—the costs of cumulative regulations;

(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);

(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must adopt; and

(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct regulation, including economic incentives such as user fees or marketable permits to encourage the desired behavior, or provide information that enables the public to make choices.

Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency “to use the best available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future benefits and costs as accurately as possible. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these techniques may include “identifying changing future compliance costs that might result from technological innovation or anticipated behavioral changes.”

We are issuing these final regulations as these policies are better than the alternatives considering the facts. The focus of this regulatory package is to improve title IV HEA program administration. In choosing among regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches that maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the Department believes that these regulations are consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.

We have also determined that this regulatory action will not unduly interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the exercise of their governmental functions.

As required by OMB Circular A-4, we compare the final regulations to the current regulations. In this regulatory impact analysis, we discuss the need for regulatory action, potential costs and benefits, net budget impacts, and the regulatory alternatives we considered.

1. Major Rule Designation

Pursuant to Subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, also known as the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as a “major rule,” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

2. Need for Regulatory Action

The Department has identified a significant need for regulatory action to address regulatory burdens, alleviate administrative burden, and ensure Federal student loan borrowers are more easily able to access the loan discharges to which they are entitled under the HEA. Accordingly, these final regulations will alleviate some of the burden on students, institutions, and the Department, as discussed further in the Costs and Benefits section of this RIA.

In recent years, outstanding Federal student loan debt has increased considerably and, for too many borrowers, that burden has been costly. More than 1 million borrowers defaulted on a Federal student loan each year in the periods prior to the nationwide pause of student loan interest and repayment first implemented by the Department and then extended by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Millions of others fell behind on their payments and risked default. For those who have defaulted, consequences can be significant, with many borrowers having their tax refunds or other expected financial resources garnished or offset, their credit histories marred, and their financial futures put on hold.

We continually examine our regulations to improve the Federal student loan programs and it was the primary goal of this negotiated rulemaking. This NPRM specifically addresses regulatory changes to discharges that will help borrowers to reduce or eliminate debt for which they should not be responsible to pay based upon discharge programs authorized by the HEA. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 modified the Federal tax treatment of student loan discharges through December 31, 2025, by excluding such discharges from gross income for Federal income tax purposes.

The Department seeks to reduce the burden for students and borrowers to access the benefits to which they are entitled through several provisions in these final regulations. This includes streamlining the BD regulations and establishing a process for group consideration of claims from borrowers with common claims or affected by the same institutional act or omission; restricting the use of mandatory arbitration and class action waiver requirements imposed by imposed by institutions participating in the Direct Loan program; reducing the burden caused by interest capitalization; ensuring totally and permanently disabled borrowers have the ability to access and maintain a discharge more easily; allowing borrowers to automatically access a closed school loan discharge; easing the process of accessing false certification discharges; and clarifying the rules borrowers must comply with in the PSLF program. Throughout these final regulations, we accommodate and, where possible, require, that these benefits are provided automatically, so that borrowers are not required to submit unnecessary paperwork to benefit from provisions included in the HEA.

These efforts to reduce burden for students and institutions will also indirectly reduce the burden on the Department by, for example, limiting the need for adjudication of individual claims for BD in some cases, simplifying the criteria that need to be checked to determine if payments count toward PSLF, and limiting the need for the Department to process paperwork by providing discharges on a more automatic basis for borrowers whose schools close or when a borrower has a total and permanent disability.

These final regulations will affect each of the three major Federal student loan programs. This includes the Direct Loan program, which is the sole source of Federal student loans issued by the Department today, as well as loans from the FFEL Program, which stopped issuing new loans in 2010 and the Perkins Loan Program, which stopped issuing new loans in 2017. Changes to TPD and closed school discharges will affect all three programs. Changes to false certification will affect FFEL and Direct Loans. Changes to interest capitalization, BD, arbitration, and PSLF will only affect Direct Loans.

Borrower Defense: Borrowers whose colleges take advantage of them, such as by misrepresenting job placement rates or other important information about the program, are eligible for a BD discharge on their loans. However, the process—which was rarely used prior to 2015—has resulted in many borrowers filing claims that remain pending due to burdensome review processes and differing standards and processes depending on when the borrower took out their loan. These final BD regulations make these policies more consistent, regardless of when the borrower took out the loan, and create a more timely and effective process for reviewing borrowers' claims. The Department also seeks to implement measures that will reduce the burden on institutions of participating in BD proceedings with the changes to group claims and recoupment. Allowing group claims ensures that institutions with large numbers of outstanding claims will likely only have to respond once to a request for information regarding the allegations that could lead to an approved BD claim. While the standards in this rule will apply to borrower defense claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023, the Department will only seek recoupment for discharges tied to conduct that would be approved under the applicable regulation based on the loan disbursement date. Additionally, separating the approval of BD claims from recoupment of loan discharge costs from the institution also limits the burden on educational institutions, when we seek to establish liabilities from a discharge paid. The use of pre-existing processes for recoupment proceedings also means institutions will not need to learn and participate in an entirely new liability and appeals process.

Pre-Dispute Arbitration: Often, schools that have taken advantage of borrowers have required borrowers to participate in private arbitration proceedings. These pre-dispute arbitration agreements require borrowers to agree to the terms before a conflict ever arises and often dictate whether the borrower can appeal the decision. Though pre-dispute agreements are not inherently predatory in practice, they can be applied in predatory ways toward borrowers such as undermining borrowers' rights to avail themselves of certain loan discharges, depriving borrowers of the protections in the HEA. We have seen arbitration applied across different industries including consumer protection and employment, and in the realm of education, pre-dispute arbitration agreements are often linked to propriety education enrollment agreements. Additionally, while the Department is aware of arguments that arbitration lowers the costs of dispute resolution for borrowers relative to litigation, a study of consumer finance cases analyzed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that most resulted in no determination on the merits of the allegation by the arbitrator, and those that did (and where counsel was retained) resulted in attorney's fees awarded at a similar rate to both consumers and companies.

The Department observed several issues and problems around pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers. First, institutions may use arbitration clauses in enrollment agreements to effectively discourage borrowers from pursuing complaints. This enables an institution to avoid financial risk associated with its wrongdoing and shift the risk to the taxpayers and Federal government through subsequent BD discharges. Additionally, borrowers cannot have their day in court because some enrollment agreements prevent their ability to participate in lawsuits, including class action litigation. This further insulates institutions from the potential financial risk of their wrongdoing and the lack of transparency surrounding institutions' arbitration requirements and limits on class actions.

Interest Capitalization: Virtually all struggling borrowers likely saw their balances increase due to interest capitalization. Interest capitalization may have occurred due to time in forbearances or deferments. Furthermore, because the interest on an unsubsidized loan accrues while the borrower is enrolled in school, a capitalization event following the in-school grace period affects any borrower who has one of these types of loans. Eliminating interest capitalization stops compounding the costs and makes loans more affordable for borrowers. While eliminating interest capitalization does not remove borrowers' debt burden, it will help to increase affordability for students whose balances might continue to grow. That is particularly true for the low-income or struggling borrowers who tend to use deferments and forbearances more heavily, and thus see more capitalizing events throughout their repayment periods.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge: Another area in which the current regulations create gaps for borrowers is related to total and permanent disability discharges. For borrowers who are unable to engage in gainful employment due to a disability, their student loan debt become exceedingly burdensome, leaving many in dire financial circumstances, despite being eligible for discharges of their Federal student loans under the HEA. Some eligible borrowers are not fully aware of existing relief pathways, but for those who are aware of TPD discharges, they face a complex and onerous procedure to ensure borrowers continue to meet the statutory test of not being able to engage in gainful employment to acquire and maintain discharges.

The Department has identified several aspects of the TPD discharge process that will be improved through regulation. First, the Department currently administers a 3-year post-discharge income monitoring period, for which the documentation requirements are burdensome for affected borrowers. Since 2013, loans for more than half of the 1 million borrowers who received a TPD discharge were reinstated because the borrower did not respond to requests for income documentation, although an analysis conducted by the Department with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data suggests that 92 percent of these borrowers did not exceed the earnings threshold, and that these results are similar for borrowers whose discharge is based on an SSA disability determination or physician's certification process. Second, borrowers who currently qualify for TPD discharges based on SSA disability determinations must be in SSA's Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE) category to qualify, although there are other circumstances that may support a discharge based on an SSA disability determination under the terms of the HEA. For borrowers applying for a TPD discharge based on a disability determination by the SSA, acceptable documentation for the TPD discharge is limited to the notice of award that the borrower receives from the SSA and for borrowers applying for a TPD discharge based on a physician's certification, only a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathy may certify the TPD discharge form. This final regulation aims to mitigate and to streamline total and permanent disability discharge process.

Closed School Discharge: Borrowers have also faced the negative financial impacts of institutions closing, often without adequate warning, interrupting borrowers' ability to continue and complete their desired educational programs. Many of these borrowers were left with debt but no degree, sometimes facing new barriers to education such as finding an easily accessible new institution and potentially losing many credits that are nontransferable. Historically, borrowers who do not finish their programs are far more likely to risk default than those who graduate, so closures can negatively affect borrowers' ability to make their payments, creating a need for improved processes for closed school discharges.

Several aspects of the closed school discharge process have limited the ability of borrowers to receive closed school discharges. Final regulations published in the Federal Register on November 1, 2016, provided for automatic closed school discharges to borrowers who were eligible for a closed school discharge but did not apply for one, and who did not enroll elsewhere within 3 years of the institution's closure. Final regulations published on September 23, 2019, eliminated this provision. These final regulations will reinstate a form of the 2016 provision.

Closed school discharges for borrowers who withdrew from a school prior to the school closing are also not consistent across years in the discharge window available to borrowers. Additionally, the Secretary may extend the closed school discharge window under “exceptional circumstances.” The nonexhaustive list of exceptional circumstances provided in the regulations does not include many events that may occur on the path to closure and could reasonably be associated as a cause of that closure. In addition, the September 23, 2019, regulations removed some of the exceptional circumstances that were included in the prior regulations, such as “a finding by a State or Federal government agency that the school violated State or Federal law,” and that remain highly relevant factors in some college closures. This final regulation aims to remedy these issues.

False Certification Discharge: The Department also identified opportunities to improve false certification discharges. These are discharges available to borrowers under the HEA if the institution that certifies the borrower's eligibility for the loan does so under false pretenses, such as when the borrower did not have a high school diploma or equivalent and did not meet alternative criteria; when the borrower had a status that disqualified them from meeting legal requirements for employment in the occupation for which they are training; or if the institution signed the borrower's name without authorization.

One challenge the Department identified with false certification discharges is that there are different standards and processes for false certification discharges depending on when the loan was disbursed, which can create confusion for borrowers. These final regulations streamline the false certification discharge process for student loan borrowers, establish standards that apply to all claims regardless of when the loan was first disbursed, and provide for a group discharge process. These final rules will also reduce the burden on borrowers to prove eligibility for false certification discharges if they did not have a high school diploma, if the institution falsely signed the borrower's name for the loan, or if the borrower had a disqualifying condition (those that would prevent the borrower from obtaining employment due to applicable State requirements related to criminal record, age, physical or mental condition, or other factors) at the time they took out the loan.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: The HEA provides forgiveness of remaining balances for borrowers who make 120 qualifying payments on their loan while working in qualifying employment in public service. However, the Department is concerned that too many borrowers have found it difficult to navigate the program's requirements due to unclear or complex definitions and overly stringent requirements regarding the payments made on the loan. For instance, the current regulations leave the definition of what constitutes full-time employment up to interpretation by each employer. This creates inconsistency, such as when one employer considers 40 hours a week as full-time employment and another employer may consider 35 hours as full-time employment, so a borrower employed 35 hours a week may be denied or granted qualifying employment depending on their employer, despite working in the same type of work. There are also situations where professors and contingent faculty have difficulty obtaining employer certification of their qualifying employment because their employers are unsure of what conversion factor to use in converting course load into hours worked per week.

The Department will improve the PSLF application process and automate the discharge process in instances where the Secretary has enough information to determine eligibility for forgiveness. This will significantly reduce burden on the borrower and the Department's burden, to review and approve applications. The current PSLF application process is difficult for many borrowers, who often struggle both with meeting the complex terms of the program and with the process of applying to demonstrate their eligibility.

3. Summary of Comments and Changes From the NPRM

The Department made several significant changes to borrower defense from the NPRM as well as some changes to interest capitalization, closed school discharges, and total and permanent disability discharges. The Department did not make any non-technical changes to arbitration and class action waivers or false certification discharges. Table 1 below provides a summary of the key changes from the NPRM to the final rule.

Table 1—Summary of Key Changes in the Final Regulations

Comments: Commenters argued that the model created by the Department to estimate the net budget impact of the changes to borrower defense understated the costs because it did not properly account for the growth in loan volume associated with borrower defense claims received by the Department. The commenter argued that the new standards would generate an increase in the number of claims filed compared to the past and that was not captured in the regulatory impact analysis.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters. The estimates in the NPRM and this final rule reflect the anticipated changes in costs from this regulation, not the overall cost of borrower defense discharges. Claims that would have been approved under prior regulations thus do not and should not show up in the cost estimates in this rule because the regulatory changes here are not changing the outcome on those claims. As such, any increases in borrower defense applications that would have been approved regardless of this regulation do not show up in the cost estimates in this regulatory impact analysis.

The budgetary effects in the regulatory impact analysis reflect reasonable assumptions made by the Department. In general, the Department has seen a significant decline in the filing of borrower defense claims associated with more recent enrollment. Of the approximately 376,000 cases opened since July 1, 2020, only 11,300 are from borrowers whose self-reported first enrollment date was on or after July 1, 2020. Similarly, of the more than 150,000 individual claims the Department has approved so far, 80 percent are covered by the 1994 regulations. While the Department will continue to review claims and may approve additional ones associated with more recent conduct, this bears out the assumptions that the loan volume associated with borrower defense will be significantly higher for past cohorts than in more recent years. The Department also notes that there is a difference between the total volume associated with a submitted borrower defense claim and the estimate about the amount of volume that results in approved claims. The Department's estimates are focused on the share of volume associated with conduct associated with approved claims. We believe that the estimate that shows the share of volume associated with conduct that could lead to an approved borrower defense claim declining over time is correct. Many of the institutions that produced the largest amount of borrower defense claims closed years ago. Many others with a significant number of claims have seen enrollment declines. Additionally, the number of lawsuits and investigations related to institutions from actors such as State attorneys general has also declined over time. As such, we do not see indications of a likely increase in conduct that leads to an approved borrower defense claim.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters argued that the Department should withdraw the regulation because of the significant cost of the regulations.

Discussion: We disagree with the commenters. We have concluded that the benefits from this rule exceed its costs. The specific types of benefits are discussed in greater detail in the costs and benefits section of this regulatory impact analysis.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters argued that instead of citing approval estimates from the regulatory impact analysis for the 2016 and 2019 regulations the Department should have conducted its own analysis of the approval rate under the 2016 regulation to justify its conclusions as to the Department's preferences for recreating elements of the 2016 regulation.

Discussion: There is not a straightforward way to calculate an approval rate for claims associated with the 2016 regulation. To date, the Department has approved nearly 123,000 individual claims covered by the 1994 regulation, just over 17,000 claims associated with the 2016 regulation, and just over 13,000 claims associated with both. However, there is not an appropriate denominator to use to calculate an approval rate. In 2020, the Department issued denial notices to tens of thousands of borrowers, including many covered by the 2016 regulation. However, those denial notices were challenged in court and the Department stipulated in October 2020 that we would not issue any further denials until the Sweet v. DeVos lawsuit was resolved on the merits. A settlement agreement on that case that received preliminary approval in July 2022 would rescind those denial notices. Other claims may not have received an individual approval notice but have since been included in a group discharge of claims. Still other claims have not received a decision of either approval or denial. The result is that any reported approval rate would risk excluding elements that could meaningfully affect the number.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters argued that the Department's budget estimates underestimated the harm to institutions by underestimating the amount of funds it expects to recoup. Commenters pointed to higher recoupment estimates in the 2016 and 2019 regulations and procedural changes in the NPRM for institutions to challenge liabilities as arguments that the recovery rate should be higher.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters. The estimates in this rule reflect what the Department expects to recoup from institutions resulting from the changes in this regulation. The estimates are not reflective of borrower defense discharges overall.

To date, the Department has yet to complete a recoupment effort for approved borrower defense claims. The Department has received some funds from institutions as part of bankruptcy negotiations that offset the expense of some of the transfers from the Federal Government to students when it discharges a loan due to an approved borrower defense claim. But the overwhelming majority of approved borrower defense claims have come against institutions that are no longer in business and have no further resources to potentially reimburse the Department for costs. The Department initiated a recovery proceeding in August 2022 for the only set of claims approved to date against an institution that is still operating. However, that process is not complete. The large share of approved claims associated with closed schools argues in favor of a gap between volume associated with approved claims and amounts recouped.

The structure of the Federal standard will also affect recoupment. As noted in the preamble, the Department will not seek to recoup on the cost of discharges associated with loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2023, unless those claims would have been approved under the standard in the regulation in effect at the time those loans were disbursed. This concept is also now reflected in regulatory text. By applying a single standard to all claims, some claims may be approved that would not have been approved under the standard in effect at that time. Finally, we remind commenters that the budgetary effects from discharges and savings from recoupment in the regulatory impact analysis reflect the effect of this rule, not borrower defense discharges overall.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters argued that the Department's analysis of the budgetary impact of the borrower defense rules was inaccurate because it did not incorporate the effects of the proposed settlement in the Sweet v. Cardona litigation.

Discussion: In July 2022, the proposed settlement in Sweet v. Cardona received preliminary approval. However, the settlement is not final. It would thus be inappropriate to factor this settlement into the baseline for estimating the cost of borrower defense discharges. We discuss the effect of the potential settlement on the net budget impact of the BD provisions in the Net Budget Impact section. Overall, if the settlement is approved, the effect would be to reduce some of the transfers to borrowers in the form of approved BD claims due to this regulation because those borrowers would instead receive settlement relief that discharges their loan. Those discharges from settlement relief are not BD discharges. Claims that are granted settlement relief but would not have been approved under this regulation do not affect the net budget impact of this regulation, since they would not have resulted in a transfer to the borrower in the form of a loan discharge nor the possibility of a transfer from the institution to the Department through a recoupment effort.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters argued that the Department did not sufficiently explain why it anticipates that 75 percent of group claims would be approved versus 12 percent of individual claims.

Discussion: The underlying budget estimates for this rule are derived using the same model and data that the Department uses for its annual estimates of the student loan programs, with specific assumptions related to BD added in. That model uses a statistically significant sample of administrative data from the National Student Loan Data System to estimate costs both based upon the cohort of when loans are disbursed as well as by different risk groups, such as whether a borrower is a first- or second-year student, the sector of school they attend, and other factors. The model is subject to an annual external audit and changes to overall assumptions must be approved by the OMB. This ensures that we are using the same data and the same consistent procedures we employ to produce other cost estimates, such as those in the President's annual budget request to Congress.

In establishing the parameters to estimate the effects of the borrower defense rule the Department drew on its experience with administering the different borrower defense regulations to estimate approval rates. We also considered these rates in comparison to the regulatory impact analysis in the 2016 regulation, since that regulation bears more similarities to this final rule than the 2019 regulation does. To date, all approved individual BD claims have been approved by reaching conclusions about an institution's conduct from common evidence the Department has across a range of borrowers and applying those findings to approve individual claims. Many of those findings that were initially used to grant individual approvals were also later used to grant a group discharge of claims. For instance, the Department approved individual claims at Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute, Marinello Schools of Beauty, and Westwood College before later discharging loans for groups of borrowers who attended those institutions. In constructing its estimates for the NPRM, the Department anticipated that in the future it is more likely to approve those claims first as a group rather than doing individual approvals followed by a discharge of a group of claims.

The higher estimated approval rate for the group claims also reflects the requirements for submitting an application to consider a group. A materially complete application requires evidence beyond sworn borrower statements, which means that if the Department forms a group, it will be beginning that consideration process with a greater evidence basis than it is likely to possess for most individual claims. By contrast, an individual claim only requires a sworn borrower statement for submission. Commenters should also recall that the Department can decide whether to form a group. It is unlikely the Department would form a group where the evidence indicating a likelihood of approval is low. The process for individual claims is different since borrowers decide to initiate those and it is thus reasonable to expect a wider range of quality.

Establishing an approval rate for claims based upon past experience is further complicated by ongoing litigation. The Department issued denials of tens of thousands of claims, but those were then challenged in court. The Department has since committed to not issue further denials until there is a decision on the merits in the litigation. We, therefore, did not factor those claims into estimates of how many claims would be approved or denied. Similarly, for the group claims the Department has only issued approvals so does not have a corresponding number of denied group applications. Instead, as noted above, we estimated that group claims would have a very high likelihood of approval, since a group would be unlikely to be formed if the chance of success was low. Were the Department to base its estimates solely upon the past approvals it has done, then the relevant approval rates would have been 100 percent for group claims. The historical group claim figure does not include any claims that might be denied and, thus, likely overstates the approval rate going forward. For individual claims, the historical approval rate is 47 percent. That figure is also overstated. The denominator is the total number of claims filed by borrowers at two institutions, DeVry University and the Court Reporting Institute, whose enrollment overlapped with the period in which we approved findings that made allegations that match our approved findings. The Department is only including those two institutions because all other approvals to date either started as or eventually became group discharges, and we are only including the more limited time period because that is what we have adjudicated to date. The numerator is the number of those borrowers whose applications include allegations that are supported by the Department's findings. A more comprehensive individual approval rate would use a denominator that includes all claims filed, not just those from borrowers who enrolled in the same period as the approved findings. It would also include claims from institutions where we do not have findings. Any approval rate that accounted for all those factors would be a small fraction of that 47 percent approval rate.

In determining how to adjust the group and individual figures downward, we also looked at past estimates from the 2016 regulation. That regulation did not split apart estimates for individual versus group claims. Accordingly, we think the overall estimate, which ranged from 50 to 65 percent of volume associated with group claims seemed overall lower than what we might anticipate when making calculations solely for group claims. Accordingly, we took an estimate that adjusts downward from what the Department has approved to date and upward from the 2016 regulation to a range of 60 to 75 percent, depending on risk group. As for individual claims, the Department considered that the total number of institutions covered by individual claims would be greater than those for group claims, since the Department has at least one individual claim against almost every institution of higher education. However, that significant breadth of claims is less likely to produce approvals since to date no individual claim has been approved without the presence of common findings. The Department also looked at the estimates for claim approvals in the 2019 final rule, which are more analogous to individual claims because that regulation did not allow for group claims. That rule estimated that between 5.25 percent and 7.5 percent of volume associated with applications would be approved. The Department adjusted those estimates upward since this final rule does not include several elements of the 2019 rule that would have led to denials, such as a statute of limitations or the need to show that an act or omission by the school was made with knowledge that it was false, misleading, or deceptive, or that it was made with a reckless disregard for the truth. Accordingly, we think a range of between 8 and 12 percent of volume associated with individual claims reflects the lower likelihood of approval, while also noting that changes in this rule will produce higher approval estimates than the 2019 regulation. As with other prior regulations, the Department estimates the likelihood of a claim being successful at a higher rate at proprietary institutions based upon the fact that to date all approved claims have been associated with that sector. Finally, we note that the Department has yet to approve any borrower defense claims associated with a public or private nonprofit institution. Basing those estimates on adjustments to estimates from previous regulations ensures a greater consistency in estimation given that there is no other data from which to draw upon.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter argued that the Department should have conducted an analysis of the impact of the rule on third-party marketers.

Discussion: The Department disagrees. We have provided an analysis showing the anticipated effects of the rule on institutions. Considering cost impact on third-party marketers would result in double-counting because the actions of third-party servicers are attributed to the institution. We have accounted for the effects on third-party servicers as a cost for institutions; counting again would be duplicative.

Changes: None.

Comments: A few commenters argued that the Department failed to abide by the Data Quality Act. They argued that the regulatory impact analysis lacked supporting documentation or analysis for its proposals to use presumptions and several other elements of the regulation related to borrower defense and arbitration. Similarly, a commenter argued that the Department did not undertake impact studies and financial analyses of the rules to understand the effect on institutions and the students they enroll.

Discussion: The Department disagrees with the commenters. All of the budget estimates produced in the regulatory impact analysis are done using the Department's model for estimating the budgetary effects of the student loan programs, which is audited annually and draws data directly from administrative systems maintained by Federal Student Aid. The Department looked at data on actual borrower defense claims received to model the anticipated effects of that rule, including looking at the type of college associated with claims, when borrowers enrolled, and the levels of debt. The Department does not think there is a better available data source for looking at this issue than our own administrative data and the official model used to estimate costs. Commenters did not identify any instances where they thought a data source used lacked objectivity. The Department believes drawing on the administrative data it has that presents a comprehensive view of borrower defense claims filed to date. Moreover, the Department believes that the model it uses to produce formal cost estimates of the Federal student loan programs ensures consistency between regulatory and other cost estimation work. As noted above, the model is annually audited and subject to approval from the OMB. It is also used across both regulations and estimations for the Department's financial statements, and the annual President's budget request.

The Department also disagrees with the commenter who raised concerns about the lack of impact studies. The regulatory impact analysis provides estimates of the financial effect of the rule in terms of the cost of approved claims to the Department, the deterrent effect of the policy, and the amount of funds we anticipate recouping.

Changes: None.

Comments: Commenters also stated that the Department did not conduct an impact analysis related to the prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers.

Discussion: With respect to the commenters who stated that we did not sufficiently explain our analysis supporting the prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers, we disagree and point to the Regulatory Impact Analysis from the NPRM. We also disagree with the assertion that we failed to engage the current regulation's justifications in a meaningful manner and provide the basis for our proposals, both of which we specifically addressed.

Changes: None.

Comments: One commenter argued that the Department did not properly balance the benefits of removing paperwork burdens associated with the TPD income-monitoring period with the potential cost to taxpayers.

Discussion: We agree that protecting federal funds from fraud and error is a necessary and important function of the Department. We note that, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Department is obligated to reduce paperwork burden where possible. As we noted in the preamble to the NPRM, we have not found the income monitoring requirement to be a useful measure of a borrower's continuing eligibility for a TPD discharge. The commenter alleges that the Department does not address the paperwork burden benefits of this change. In fact, we stated in the preamble to the NPRM:

These proposed rules would eliminate the Post-Discharge Monitoring form (TPD-PDM) from the collection and will create a decrease in overall burden from the 1845-0065 collection. The forms update would be completed and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. The burden changes would be assessed to OMB Control Number 1845-0065, Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms [NPRM, p. 41970]

The NPRM went on to state that “burden will be cleared at a later date through a separate information collection for the form” [NPRM, p. 41973]. Far from being arbitrary and capricious, this is our standard practice for evaluating paperwork burden that is primarily a result of requiring individuals to complete a Federal form.

Changes: None.

Comment: One commenter asked that the Department expand on the effects of removing the limitation on providing automatic discharges for schools that closed prior to November 1, 2013, and show the costs of that change in the regulatory impact analysis.

Discussion: The commenter's request reflects an assumption that the Department is able to retroactively award discharges for schools that closed prior to the effective date of the regulations. The Department, however, is unable to retroactively implement the regulation. It would thus be inappropriate to show additional effects associated with those older closures.

Changes: None.

4. Discussion of Costs and Benefits

The final regulations are broadly intended to provide benefits to borrowers by improving the administration of specific aspects of Federal student loan programs, including through clearer guidelines and processes for obtaining the benefits and protections that the HEA provides them. These changes are particularly important for borrowers who have difficulty keeping up with their payments, who often end up in forbearance, delinquency, or default, and as a result, see their balances grow through interest accrual and capitalization. Some borrowers may struggle to manage their student loan debt because they were misled due to acts or omissions by the school they attended. This caused them detriment rather than delivering the education promised, which could justify relief in the form of a discharge of the remaining balance of the loan, a refund of payments made to the Secretary, and other changes as applicable to credit reporting and removing a borrower from default. Or they may have a loan that was certified under false pretenses and never should have been made. Others may have debts from an education that they could not complete because a school closed, putting them at significant risk of default. In other cases, a borrower may face major repayment challenges because they have a total and permanent disability that prohibits them from engaging in gainful employment for prolonged periods of time. There are also borrowers who may not be struggling, but who are engaging in service to the United States and need promised relief so they can continue in their public service positions. The rule will help borrowers to thrive economically by avoiding repayment difficulties and default, as well as other contributors to financial instability.

The Department also believes that these final regulations will provide critical support to underserved borrowers, thereby enhancing equity. For instance, Black borrowers are disproportionately likely to face repayment difficulties and growing balances. Within recent cohorts, Black college graduates faced a likelihood of default that was five times larger than that of white borrowers. Black borrowers enter repayment after earning a bachelor's degree with higher debt than borrowers in other racial groups, and also continue to see their balances increase rather than fall.

Family income, college completion status, and the type of college a student borrowed to attend are additional factors that relate to repayment difficulties. One study finds that students who borrowed to attend 2-year for-profit colleges were 26 percent more likely to default than those who borrowed at 4-year public colleges, and that family income is a strong predictor of default risk.

Using data from the College Scorecard, a different analysis finds that across all institution types, undergraduate non-completers have substantially higher default rates compared to those who completed a degree or credential. Borrowers in these groups also spend more time with their loans in forbearance and are more likely to see their balances increase after entering repayment.

The remainder of this subsection of the RIA summarizes the conclusions and information on which the Department relied, such as technical studies, assumptions, data, and methodologies, to develop this regulation.

4.1 Borrower Defense

These final regulations improve the process for adjudicating BD claims and for recouping from institutions the cost of discharges associated with approved claims where possible. The Department anticipates that these final regulations will have many benefits for borrowers, as well as some reduction of burden for institutions of higher education. In total, the Department believes the expected increase in BD discharges and the expected increase in recoupment, as compared with the 2019 regulations, would deter behavior that could form the basis for a BD claim and ensure more borrowers are able to access a loan discharge, as provided for in the HEA.

The final regulation will establish a uniform Federal standard for initial adjudication of BD claims, regardless of when a loan was disbursed, which will streamline administration of the BD regulations and increase protections for students. However, institutions will not be subject to recoupment actions for applications that are granted based upon this regulation that would not have been approved under the applicable standard that would have been in effect at the time the loan was disbursed. A uniform standard also will significantly reduce the time necessary to determine eligibility and relief for BD claims, ensuring that borrowers would receive faster determinations. The use of a uniform Federal standard for initial adjudication will also ensure all borrowers receive a consistent review, unlike current rules that outline different requirements depending on when a loan was disbursed.

The Federal standard will provide a clearer path for approval of BD claims where the Department's review of the evidence shows that the institution's act or omission caused detriment to the borrower that warrants relief in the form of a full discharge of remaining loan balances, a refund of all payments made to the Secretary, and other benefits. This balances assistance for harmed borrowers while limiting the approval of immaterial claims. We also add aggressive and deceptive recruitment as grounds for a BD approval. The Department is adding this category based upon its experience in administering the BD regulation and because the Department is concerned about instances in which aggressive and deceptive recruitment tactics have caused detriment to borrowers by preventing them from making an informed choice. We also will restore the categories of breach of contract and judgment as grounds for a BD claim, which were included in the 2016 regulation but removed in the 2019 regulation. We have also expanded the category of judgment to include final Department actions against an institution that could give rise to a BD claim. This is limited to actions under part 668, subpart G, denying the institution's application for recertification, or revoking the institution's provisional program participation agreement under § 668.13, based on the institution's acts or omissions that could give rise to a borrower defense claim related to a substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, or aggressive and deceptive recruitment. To clearly delineate that omission of fact is a form of misrepresentation, we have listed it separately.

These final regulations also provide clearer protections for borrowers while their cases are under consideration by Department officials, by placing a borrower's loan in forbearance or stopping collections activity while the case is being adjudicated. Interest accumulation will cease immediately in the case of a group claim or after 180 days for an individual claim. Individual claims will be adjudicated within 3 years from the receipt of a materially complete application, with adjustments to address claims pending on the effective date of this regulation. Group claims will be adjudicated within 1 year from the formation of a group, which will occur within 2 years of receipt of a complete application. Previously, there was no timeline for adjudicating BD claims. As a result, many borrowers who filed claims have been waiting for years to have their claims adjudicated. Of nearly 81,000 claims submitted in 2017, for instance, more than 14,000 (nearly one in five) remain pending. Nearly one in five claims submitted in 2018 and over one in four claims submitted in 2019 also remain pending. Certainty about how long it will take to decide a claim will help borrowers better judge whether they think they have a claim they want to submit since they will have an understanding that it could take several years to receive a decision. It will also let them plan for whether they want to turn down a forbearance and continue to pay their loans or not.

The Department's failure to render a decision by the end of the timeline will render the loans unenforceable. Loans in such a circumstance will not be considered subject to a BD claim so an institution will not face a recoupment action for the cost of those loans. This will also provide a benefit to borrowers, who would see their loan discharged if we are unable to render a decision on their claim within the deadlines.

The Department has included a group process for BD claims. This process was eliminated in the 2019 regulations. Through a group claim the Department may consider evidence in its own possession as well as requests from third parties to render a single decision on similarly situated borrowers who all attended the same institution, regardless of whether they all applied for BD relief. This will ensure a more efficient process. The inclusion of third-party requestors to initiate a group claim will provide a formal path for the Department to receive additional evidence that will help it make sound decisions on claims. The Department estimates that as much as 75 percent of BD volume associated with private for-profit colleges could be associated with group claims, with the rates in public and private nonprofit sectors a minority of volume. While the staff time required to investigate the evidence behind a group claim could be longer than what is needed for an individual claim, applying the same adjudication result to a group of borrowers will result in an overall reduction in staff time. Approving group claims will also result in the filing of fewer individual claims, as the approved group claims will result in discharges for borrowers who have not yet applied, eliminating the need for such borrowers to submit applications. On net, these actions will save time for both borrowers and the Department, thereby generating real social benefits.

All approved claims will receive a full discharge of remaining loan balances associated with the claim, as well as a refund of amounts previously paid to the Secretary. This eliminates a previously proposed complex process for the potential calculation of partial discharges. It also simplifies the adjudication standards by noting that an approved claim must involve circumstances that warrant this form of relief. All borrowers with approved claims to date have been approved for a full discharge.

If a claim is not approved, a reconsideration process will allow a borrower to submit new evidence that was not available in the initial application. This process will afford borrowers an opportunity to be considered under a State law standard if a decision under the Federal standard does not result in an approved claim and the loans were first disbursed prior to July 1, 2017.

By increasing relief to borrowers with claims that merit approval, improving the BD standard, restoring a group process, and providing a reconsideration process, these final regulations will result in additional transfers from the Department to borrowers, or from institutions to borrowers when the Department successfully recovers from the institutions. All borrowers will fall under a single, more expansive rule and those whose claims are approved will be able to receive relief more quickly and efficiently, which generates real benefits to society.

This process will also afford institutions an appropriate opportunity to respond. The Department's allowance for group processes in the final regulations means that institutions will have an opportunity to respond before a group is formed as well as during the adjudication process if the Department does decide to form a group. That means an institution needs to respond only twice regarding a group claim, instead of sending responses to hundreds if not thousands of individual claims. While institutions will be expected to provide a response within 90 days when contacted, the separation of approval and recovery processes means that institutions will not be expected to engage in extended challenges to claims for which the Department decides not to pursue recoupment.

In the past, the Department has seen institutions attempt to increase enrollment by resorting to conduct that later leads to BD approvals. For instance, the Department has found that some institutions guarantee borrowers that they would get a well-paying job. They also aggressively marketed inflated job placement rates to encourage students to enroll in their institution. Holding institutions accountable for this type of misrepresentation, as well as adding in aggressive recruitment as a type of conduct that can lead to approved BD claims, will benefit institutions that do not engage in these tactics. This is because approved BD claims may deter institutions from providing students with inaccurate information and from using aggressive recruitment tactics, helping institutions with better conduct and outcomes more successfully compete for enrollment.

The final rules provide for a process to recover the discharged amount from institutions after the adjudication of BD cases. Recovery from institutions is important to offset costs to the Federal government and taxpayers from approved BD claims. It also holds institutions accountable for past behavior and will help to deter future practices that could form the basis for additional BD claims.

As noted earlier, the Department will apply the BD standards in this rule to all claims pending on or received on or after July 1, 2023, but recoupment would only occur if the claims would have been approved under the standards for the relevant BD regulation in effect at the time the loans were disbursed. The Department believes there will still be a deterrent effect even in situations where a claim is approved but recoupment doesn't occur. If an institution is still engaging in similar behavior that led to the approved BD claim on a loan disbursed earlier, they will have a strong incentive to cease that behavior to reduce the risk of future recoupment efforts. Similarly, institutions that are not currently engaging in a behavior that could lead to an approved BD claim would be dissuaded from adopting practices that have been shown to lead to approved claims.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

As detailed in the Net Budget Impact section, the changes to BD are expected to reduce transfers from affected borrowers to the Federal government as their obligation to repay loans is discharged. We estimate this transfer to have an annualized net budget impact of $903 million and $819 million at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rates, respectively. This will be partially reimbursed by affected institutions with the annualized recoveries estimated at $36.9 and $37.1 million at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rates. The Department anticipates that all costs are transfers, other than minimal costs related to implementation. If the Department recoups the forgiven dollars from institutions, they are transfers from institutions to borrowers. Otherwise, they are transfers from the Federal budget to borrowers. Details about these estimates are in the Net Budget Impacts section of this document.

In the Federal standard for defense to repayment claims, a claim could be brought on any of the following grounds: substantial misrepresentation, substantial omission of fact, breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, and a State or Federal judgment or final Department action against an institution that could give rise to a BD claim. The first two grounds incorporate and expand part 668, subpart F, which currently defines three categories of misrepresentation, relating to the nature of education programs, the nature of financial charges, and the employability of graduates. Aggressive recruitment is added as a new ground for a BD application and is outlined in part 668, subpart R. The Federal standard will be applied to all borrowers regardless of when their loans were disbursed. BD applications that are currently awaiting adjudication upon the effective date of the regulations will be adjudicated based on the final regulations. Since these regulations expanded on the categories in which borrowers may be eligible for a BD claim, these pending cases could be approved where they otherwise may not be under existing regulations. In addition, the Department expects an increase in the number of BD applications when the regulations go into effect due to the expanded categories of institutional misconduct. However, as explained in the discussion of benefits of the BD rule, the Department also expects a deterrent effect from the regulations as institutions adjust their behavior, even in circumstances where an institution is not subject to recoupment.

The regulations expand group BD claims by including a process initiated by third-party requestors and a process based on prior Secretarial final actions, as well as the general authority for the Secretary to form a group. With these changes, the Department expects that individuals who have a valid BD claim they could assert, but who were previously unaware of their eligibility or unfamiliar with the process, could become members of a group claim. The Department will award a full discharge to all borrowers with approved claims by adjusting the Federal standard to note that an approved claim requires the Department to conclude that the institution's act or omission caused detriment to the borrower or borrowers that warrants this form of relief.

The reconsideration process could increase costs in the form of burden for the Department, although these costs are likely to be small. There are two possible outcomes for a BD application: denial or approval. The Department expects some borrowers whose BD applications are denied to seek reconsideration, which will increase administrative costs and time compared to previous regulations that do not have reconsideration processes. Historically, just under 7 percent of the borrowers who received a denial notice had filed a request for reconsideration. In addition, third-party requestors may also seek reconsideration. The change made by the Department from the NPRM to the final rule to limit reconsideration under State law to loans issued prior to July 1, 2017, will also reduce the costs of reconsideration, as there are more limited instances where the Department would have conducted another review under a different standard.

While these final regulations will result in higher short-term costs for the Federal government in the form of transfers to borrowers, the Department expects that some of these payments will be recovered from institutions over time. While the Department will likely be unable to recover from institutions that are no longer operating when BD claims are adjudicated, the final regulations will increase the likelihood that the Department could recover from relevant institutions before they are closed because (1) group claims against an institution will increase the expected benefit of recovering from the institution since they will result in large discharge amounts if approved; (2) the Department is expected to respond to group claims within 1 year of deciding to form the group, which will increase the possibility that the institution is still in operation; and (3) the streamlined claims process will allow the Department to act more quickly on BD applications. As a result, the costs in the form of transfers to borrowers that will result from the final BD regulations could be smaller for the Federal government in the long term as it receives transfers from institutions.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

The final regulations will result in administrative cost savings for the Department, efficiencies for institutions in responding to claims, and benefits to borrowers. In addition, borrowers may benefit from a deterrent effect of these final regulations.

The Department anticipates that establishing a process for recoupment from institutions and providing for a faster adjudication process will assist it in recovering more funds from institutions on claims associated with future loan disbursements because those schools will be less likely to have closed by the time liabilities are assessed than is the case under current regulations.

The Department also believes that a stronger and more expansive BD process will result in changes in institutional behavior that benefit borrowers. For instance, past title IV policy changes to increase accountability, such as the cohort default rate measure and the 90/10 rule, encouraged institutions to change their practices to respond and conform to new regulations. Accordingly, we expect that, over time, institutions will engage less frequently in acts or omissions that could give rise to a BD claim, which, in turn, will generate benefits to borrowers. Discouraging the type of acts or omissions that would lead to approved borrower defense claims will increase the likelihood that borrowers are presented with more accurate and transparent information about the cost of their programs, ability to transfer credits, employment outcomes, and other key things that are necessary for making an informed decision. Institutions will also want to avoid being overly aggressive in pursuing students, furthering the ability of prospective borrowers to understand the decision they are making. A greater focus on transparency and lessening aggressive sales tactics will in turn put greater pressure on institutions to make sure they are delivering better value for students, since making false promises could lead to the possibility of discharges and then recoupment. Overall, when students are able to make better decisions, they will be more likely to consider and enroll in programs and institutions that generate either lower debt or a greater earnings gain.

Borrowers who will be most affected by the final regulations tend to be relatively disadvantaged, which influences the nature and scale of benefits we describe below. To date, BD applicants have disproportionately attended schools in the proprietary sector, and proprietary schools disproportionately serve students of color, women, low-income students, veterans, and single parents. Of more than 554,000 BD claims received from 2015 through June 2022, more than 420,000—about three out of four BD applicants—attended proprietary institutions. Meanwhile, just 5 percent of applicants attended public institutions. These numbers understate the share of borrowers who attended private for-profit institutions because the data reflect the institution's sector at the time a borrower applied, not when they attended. That means a borrower who attended a college when it was a proprietary institution but applied after it became a nonprofit is considered an applicant from a nonprofit institution.

Borrowers who received Pell Grants while enrolled and borrowers who struggle to repay their loans and default will benefit from these final regulations. Among the more than 144,000 approved individual claims, 88 percent were from borrowers who had also received a Pell Grant at some point. This is slightly higher than overall share of BD applicants who received a Pell Grant, which was 82 percent. At least 22 percent of applicants are currently in default on their loans, consisting of approximately 95,000 borrowers. This number does not include borrowers previously in default who have had their claims approved and discharged, but it does include some borrowers whose claims have been approved and are in the process of being discharged. As a result, it potentially understates the degree to which BD applicants have been in default.

The single Federal standard for initial adjudication, uniform BD regulations, and a more streamlined process (such as awarding a full discharge for approved claims) will reduce the staff time per borrower needed to adjudicate BD applications. These savings will largely come from being able to apply consistent rules across all borrowers while still ensuring that each case receives a thorough and rigorous review to determine whether their claims should be approved or denied.

The group process will significantly reduce the staff time required to investigate and adjudicate BD cases on a per-borrower basis. The final regulations include several means by which the Department can pursue a group process. Specifically, a group process can be initiated by the Department based on either common evidence from cases being adjudicated or prior Secretarial final action, or a State or legal assistance organization may request that a group process be initiated.

When the Department initiates a group process, it will be considering the possibility of approval for tens of borrowers all at once, if not hundreds or thousands. While the scope of this work will require significantly more time than reviewing any one individual claim, it is far more efficient than review on a per-borrower basis. In addition, the evidence available during group claims is expected to be more extensive than what the Department may possess for an individual claim. The process for group claims tied to prior final actions by the Secretary will be particularly efficient because the Department will draw upon prior work done by the agency, minimizing the amount of duplication in investigation that needs to occur. This will result in a significant saving of Department staff time and ensure faster adjudication for borrowers, as well as a straightforward process for subsequent recoupment. This process is more efficient than how the Department has addressed BD claims to date. For those claims, it has first worked to reach common findings, a process similar to what would be done to determine a group claim. But after reaching those common findings for approval, the Department then conducts reviews of individual claims to determine if the allegations provided by the borrower match the common findings. This results in a second step of claim review that has disqualified some borrowers who may have experienced the misconduct that led to approvals, but whose claims did not necessarily articulate those experiences. Such a secondary review will not be necessary in the group process, though the Department will continue to review borrower eligibility to ensure findings are applied appropriately only to affected borrowers. The time saved using a group process benefits borrowers, as well as the Department.

The use of group processes can also provide some efficiencies for institutions in the process of responding to claims. Institutions have to respond to individual claims separately, which could require them to respond to hundreds if not thousands of separate claims from similarly situated borrowers. By contrast, a group approach will require institutions to offer only a single response prior to the formation of the group and a second during adjudication if the Department decides to form a group.

The regulations will also result in significant benefits to borrowers who qualify for a BD approval. Those who have their claims approved will receive a significant benefit as they will no longer have to repay the loans associated with their claim. This results in a transfer from the Department to the borrower. It is the Department's experience that many borrowers who have borrower defense claims approved are those who have had difficulty repaying their loans since the institution did not fulfill its obligations to its students. We anticipate that result will remain true under these regulations. Moreover, the borrower will receive refunds of amounts previously paid to the Secretary, an additional benefit. For all applicants, the regulations will help to reduce the burden of applying where the Department is able to identify eligible borrowers for loan relief but where the borrowers might not know they are eligible or how to access relief. These borrowers who are eligible for BD discharges, but may not know how to access relief, are unlikely to have benefited from the education they received and may be distressed borrowers who are delinquent, in default, or have previously defaulted on their student loans. These loan repayment struggles create further barriers for borrowers' personal financial circumstances, and also add to the Department's administrative burden when there are borrowers in the system who are eligible for a discharge but instead are in default. The regulations will allow more eligible borrowers to access relief through group claims, which will bring benefit to both borrowers and the Department. Although the borrowers could have received relief by applying individually, we see substantial benefit to them receiving this relief sooner through the group process.

The Department believes that the expansion of eligibility for BD claims and the reintroduction of a rigorous group process will result in positive change in institutional behaviors due to the deterrent effect. Past Federal sanctions of institutions resulted in a considerable enrollment shift away from sanctioned institutions and similar types of institutions that did not face sanctions. Though these sanctions were not sector specific, they had greater effects on proprietary institutions and resulted in a shift of enrollment toward public institutions. This shift resulted in reductions in both student borrowing and on defaults on federal student loans. Research also finds that public sector enrollment generates higher earnings relative to proprietary school enrollment. Attending a public certificate program is associated with $2,144 higher annual earnings or $28,600 to $49,600 in lifetime earnings per diverted student in present value terms at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rates, respectively, relative to attending a proprietary certificate program. When institutions were sanctioned in the past under other accountability rules, students who would have attended a sanctioned institution instead switched sectors and experienced improved outcomes. Thus, we can expect gains to students in the form of reduced debt, lower chances of default, and increased earnings. Moreover, as noted earlier, the Department believes that the deterrence effect will occur even if the institution does not face a recoupment action related to approved claims. Improved behavior on the part of institutions should benefit students even if they remain enrolled at the same institution. Even if they do not face financial consequences for an approved claim, an institution would want to stop engaging in such behavior in the future to avoid the possibility of recoupment actions tied to future loans.

A deterrence effect will also benefit institutions that do not engage in conduct that leads to approved BD claims. The Department has seen in the past that some institutions with poor outcomes have used fraudulent or misleading materials in marketing and recruitment to attract new students. This may place institutions that remain truthful about their outcomes at a competitive disadvantage in attracting and enrolling students. Curbing the conduct that leads to approved BD claims thus helps institutions that never engaged in those behaviors in the first place. It is possible that in some limited circumstances tied to the worst behavior, the approval of BD claims could result in the exit of an institution from the Federal financial aid programs. An institution that engages in problematic practices for years could face significant liabilities from approved BD claims that they cannot afford. As with deterring institutions from engaging in misleading or other questionable practices, having the institutions with the worst behaviors exit the Federal aid programs will provide benefits to all other institutions that are operating in a more truthful and ethical manner.

4.2 False Certification Discharge

False certification discharges provide relief to borrowers whose institutions falsely certified their eligibility for a Federal student loan. The Department's 2019 regulations stated that borrowers who took out loans after July 1, 2020, are ineligible for a false certification discharge if they attested to having a high school diploma or equivalent. For loans disbursed after July 1, 2020, the regulations are unclear regarding the ability of a borrower to seek a false certification discharge for a disqualifying status. After these regulatory changes, we observed a sharp decline in the number of borrowers and total amounts of false certifications discharged in 2021. The number of borrowers who were granted false certification discharge was 400 in 2020 but was only 100 in 2021, and the total amount of false certification discharges was $4.8 million in 2020 but only $0.8 million in 2021, suggesting that borrowers were facing increased barriers to accessing false certification discharges to which they were entitled.

Table 2—False Certification Discharges, by Calendar Year

The effects for borrowers could be significant. In 2020, prior to the new regulations, the discharge approval rate was about 7.3 percent, and the average amount discharged per application was $9,310.

Table 3—Number of False Certification Approvals and Discharge Amounts, by Reason

To address the decline in borrower access to necessary discharges on their loans, and to ensure the regulations governing these discharges are streamlined and understandable to eligible borrowers, the Department will apply one set of regulatory standards to cover all false certification discharge claims.

The uniform standard will improve borrower access to false certification discharges by clarifying that eligibility for the discharge begins at the time the loan was originated, not at the time the loan was disbursed. Current regulations for Direct Loan and FFEL Program loans also contain separate requirements for loans first disbursed before July 1, 2020, and loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, which confuse borrowers and create equity issues for borrowers who may struggle to navigate this complexity. This uniform standard will ensure that more borrowers have access to the expanded eligibility and that they are not forced to navigate a complex and overlapping set of regulatory frameworks. As with the BD standard, we believe that this uniform standard will streamline the administration of the regulations and better protect students while reducing confusion among borrowers, institutions, servicers, and the Department.

The Department will rescind the requirement that any borrower who falsely attests that they have a high school diploma or its equivalent does not qualify for a false certification discharge. This will ensure that borrowers can seek a discharge if they were coerced or deceived by their institution of higher education and as a result reported having a valid high school diploma or its equivalent when they in fact did not, further expanding access to false certification discharges.

These final regulations specify that the Secretary may grant a false certification discharge, including without an application, if the institution falsified Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for the loans. We will grant group discharges based on the falsification of SAP and the Department would establish the dates and borrowers affected. The discharge will only cover loans for those borrowers for the period covered by the falsification of SAP and does not discharge all the borrower's other loans or all loans at the institution. The Department is aware of problematic practices by institutions that have falsified SAP, which is a basic eligibility requirement for continued access to title IV, HEA aid, and believes that this addition will ensure that borrowers whose institutions falsely confirmed their eligibility through these practices have access to loan relief, and that institutions may be held accountable for their actions.

These final regulations will remove the requirement that borrowers submit signature specimens when applying for discharge due to unauthorized loan, unauthorized payment, or identity theft, and replace the need that a borrower provides a judicial determination of identity theft with the ability to submit alternative evidence. This will expand access to false certification discharges by reducing the burden of document preparation on borrowers and simplifying the application process.

These final regulations will also establish a group process for awarding discharges to similarly situated borrowers. In part, this addition was in response to negotiators who noted that the Department has rarely utilized its authority to grant group false certification discharges. As a result, borrowers will receive more equitable and consistent treatment because they will be able to access relief on their loans regardless of whether they applied, based on evidence the Department collects or has in its possession. A State attorney general or nonprofit legal services representative will be able to submit an application for a group false certification discharge to the Department. This will ensure a more efficient process than is typically available, whereby third-party requestors and other stakeholders will be able to contribute directly to the fact-finding process required before adjudicating the application. The group process, and associated improvements, will also help to significantly reduce staff time required to investigate and adjudicate individuals' applications when common facts and circumstances are present.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

Increased accessibility of discharges may encourage more borrowers to file claims or may result in additional discharges as a result of borrowers' access to a group process. The Department expects an increase in the Federal government's expenditure and an increase in the time in processing the claims in the short term, but a minimal long-term cost. The Department anticipates the costs associated from these changes will be transfer costs. The short-term increase in expenditures will come from the following regulations.

The Department will rescind the provision that any borrower who attests to having obtained a high school diploma or equivalent does not qualify for a false certification discharge on that basis. The Department is aware of numerous instances in which borrowers were forced or misled by their institution into attesting to holding a high school diploma, or into obtaining a diploma on false pretenses. In cases where such evidence is available, the Department believes the institution should be held accountable for its misconduct, and the borrower should be able to access a discharge of their eligible loans. This could lead to more borrowers applying and being granted loan discharges in the future.

These final regulations will remove the requirement that borrowers submit signature specimens and replaces the provision of a judicial determination of identity theft with alternative evidence. Similarly, the Department anticipates that removing this barrier will allow more eligible borrowers to apply without having their applications rejected, and may, therefore, increase the costs of approved false certification discharges.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

The process, which will be more streamlined, will ease the administrative burden on the Department for the review of claims and for appeals of denials that are escalated for further review. Most importantly, the process contemplates the benefits to the borrowers themselves who are entitled to discharges when their institution wrongfully saddles them with debt they are not eligible for and wastes their aid eligibility.

The Department also expects that there will be some behavioral impact as institutions respond to changes in the regulations and reduce their use of such predatory practices, since the Department could assess liabilities against the institution for the discharges. In addition, this deterrent of strengthening and streamlining these regulations is expected to offer some benefit to taxpayers. Therefore, the long-term transfer costs may be reduced.

Taken together, the final regulations will result in a more streamlined process, rescind limitations on borrower eligibility from current regulations, and remove and replace requirements, which are expected collectively to improve borrowers' accessibility to false certification discharge. The Department expects that these final rules will ensure more borrowers have access to relief. While this will increase costs to taxpayers through additional false certification discharges, the Department also anticipates that some of these costs will be recouped from the institutions responsible, and that these final rules will be more efficient.

4.3 Public Service Loan Forgiveness

These final regulations clarify the regulations to help borrowers better understand and access the program, particularly by simplifying the rules regarding what constitutes a qualifying payment, and to streamline the Department's processing of the applications it receives for forgiveness. Overall, we anticipate that these final regulations will increase the amount of loan forgiveness through PSLF.

These final regulations further clarify the definition of full-time employment that meets the terms of the program to address inconsistencies in how different employers may consider full-time employment and in how non-tenure track faculty are treated. Most of these changes are modest but will bring benefits to borrowers in the form of more consistent treatment. This may also provide additional clarity to employers, ensuring they can better understand the program and inform borrowers of their eligibility. These final regulations revise the definition of what it means for a borrower to be an employee or employed to include the narrow circumstance of someone who works as a contractor for a qualifying employer in a position or providing service which, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer. This revised definition will ensure physicians in California and Texas, and anyone else affected by a similar set of restrictions, will be eligible for PSLF benefits as this group were not intended to be excluded by the PSLF regulations.

Where possible, the Department will seek to automate the process of identifying public servants and accounting for their time worked to ensure they automatically receive progress toward PSLF. The changes in the regulatory text that allow for a discharge when the Secretary has sufficient information will allow for this circumstance without needing to specify a specific match or source of data. This also recognizes that the Department cannot bind another agency with a matching agreement in its regulations. However, as noted in previous public announcements the Department is working to implement data matches with other Federal agencies that will enable it to account for Federal employees and service members and is exploring the feasibility of matches at the State level that may also provide the information needed to determinate PSLF eligibility. The benefit of these data matches for borrowers is increased access for those who would otherwise not have applied, but who may be eligible for relief on their loans. We anticipate an increase in the total amount of loans forgiven due to greater use of automation made possible by changes in these regulations. For instance, we are already aware of approximately 110,000 Federal employees who have completed some employer certifications and will thus benefit from the automatic match and another 17,000 service members in a similar situation. We anticipate there could be at least tens of thousands of more borrowers we might identify as eligible for credit toward PSLF from these matches. Additional matches in the future could help hundreds of thousands of borrowers. We also expect that borrowers identified for forgiveness through these data matches will have information that is validated by government agencies, ensuring greater program integrity among a larger share of applicants who receive forgiveness. However, because we have not yet conducted these matches, we cannot currently determine how many of the borrowers identified by these matches will have already applied for PSLF, and thus have an easier path to receiving forgiveness, or if these will be borrowers who had not previously applied for the program.

Automation will also have considerable benefits, both for the Department and for borrowers, in terms of reducing the administrative burden. While there are initial costs associated with developing the automation, the future cost savings far outweigh the development costs. As noted above, 127,000 borrowers who were civilian Federal employees or service members had employer certifications completed for some employment prior to any data match, and many others could opt to certify employment in the future. Automating the consideration of those borrowers' employment and/or PSLF applications will save time for borrowers and reduce the investment of staff resources required to analyze PSLF applications.

These final regulations create more flexible requirements around loan payments to ensure more eligible borrowers have access to PSLF, partially addressing the low success rate of PSLF applications. Currently, the regulations governing qualifying payments are extremely rigid. Payments must be made on-time, within 15 days of the due date, or they do not count as qualifying payments. Payments also must be made in full, so payments off by only a few cents or payments that are made in more than one installment are disqualified. Additionally, some public servants have opted for deferments or forbearances available to borrowers who are working in public service jobs—such as for AmeriCorps and Peace Corps—without realizing those months will not qualify for PSLF. Simpler payment rules and counting some deferments and forbearances will significantly reduce confusion and improve take up of the program. In addition, borrowers will benefit by being able to make qualifying payments, through the final rule's hold harmless provision, for prior deferment or forbearance periods where there was previously no qualifying payment possible. This change grants borrowers the ability to make up payments that did not previously qualify as well as not reset the clock toward consolidation.

These changes will increase costs to the government in the form of greater transfers to borrowers eligible for PSLF, as take-up of the benefit increases due to automation and as more borrowers become eligible for PSLF outside of the narrow constraints of the existing rules but consistent with the statutory purpose of the PSLF program. Borrowers who work in Federal agencies where data matching agreements are arranged will benefit as a higher fraction of eligible borrowers receive forgiveness and the burden in applying for benefits is reduced. All other things equal, among borrowers for whom receiving forgiveness becomes more likely, borrowers with higher debt levels, including some graduate borrowers, will experience greater amounts of loan forgiveness.

These final regulations formalize a reconsideration process and establish a clear timeline by which borrowers must submit a reconsideration request. These refinements will streamline the application process and provide a clearer timeline to apply for PSLF or request a reconsideration. The Department anticipates that this reconsideration process will increase administrative burden for the agency and for borrowers, but that it will allow for a fairer and more equitable process to access PSLF where borrowers believe the Department has erred in its determination.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

As detailed in the Net Budget Impact section, the changes to PSLF are expected to reduce transfers from affected borrowers to the Federal government as their loans are forgiven. We estimate this transfer to have an annualized net budget impact of $2.1 billion and $2.0 billion at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rate, respectively. The Department anticipates most of the budgetary impact will be transfers as borrowers more easily access PSLF benefits. In particular, we expect that the expansion of eligibility, the inclusion of additional payments as qualifying payments, and increases in take-up facilitated by automating the benefit where it is possible to identify eligible borrowers through a data match will increase transfers from the government to eligible borrowers. The revised definitions of qualifying services are not anticipated to impact a significant number of borrowers but will provide greater clarity about eligibility. This budget estimate is explained in greater detail in the net budget impact section of this regulatory impact analysis.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

The Department anticipates several benefits based on these regulatory changes to PSLF. The Department seeks to reduce the burden of accessing PSLF benefits for borrowers who are employed by a nonprofit organization that provides non-governmental public services and streamline the process to obtain these benefits. The Department received over 917,000 employment certification forms in 2019, certifying that borrowers are working toward forgiveness, and 825,000 employment certification forms in 2020. The Department also received 96,000 forgiveness applications in 2019 and 135,000 forgiveness applications in 2020 from borrowers who may believe they completed the requirements of the program to qualify for forgiveness. Starting in late 2020, the combined form replaced the separate process of borrowers submitting employment certification forms and forgiveness applications. The Department received 130,000 combined forms in 2020 and 776,000 combined forms in 2021. However, after the announcement of the Limited PSLF Waiver in October 2021 that temporarily waived some program requirements through the end of October 2022, the Department has seen significant growth in applications compared to earlier periods. Due to the implementation of an automated process for some eligible borrowers as we described in the NPRM, we are anticipating decreases in the number of applications received because an application will not need to be submitted if the Department has the necessary information to assess whether the borrower met the PSLF requirements during the automated process. Under this process, a borrower will be notified if the borrower meets the requirements for loan forgiveness. After the borrower is notified, the Department will suspend collection and the remaining balance of principal and accrued interest will be forgiven.

By streamlining the PSLF process, the Department anticipates a reduction in the administrative burden and time savings for application processing. There will also be a burden reduction on qualifying employers as the employers will have a simpler time verifying what they are attesting to, such as the hours worked by the borrower.

We anticipate these regulations will impact tens of thousands of borrowers who will now qualify for PSLF under the clarified definitions of qualifying employment but previously did not qualify for PSLF. This is particularly due to the changes to the definition of employee or employed to capture a narrow and specific type of contractual relationship. The updated list of deferments and forbearances are anticipated to benefit a significant number of borrowers engaged in public service work who would otherwise not be able to consider those months toward forgiveness. Over the long run the Department hopes that hundreds of thousands of borrowers who would ordinarily have to apply for PSLF will receive student loan forgiveness without submitting an application. This includes military service members and Federal employee borrowers who will automatically receive credit toward PSLF using Federal data matches and the Department hopes that over time it will include some State-level matches as well.

4.4 Interest Capitalization

Interest capitalization occurs when any unpaid interest is added to a borrower's principal balance, further increasing the amount on which interest is charged. This raises the overall cost of repaying the loan. Prior to this rule, capitalization occurred when a borrower first entered repayment, after periods of forbearance, after periods of deferment for non-subsidized loans, and when borrowers switched out of various income-driven repayment plans. In this regulation, the Department ends capitalization in all circumstances that are not required by statute. This will result in ending capitalization that occurs when a borrower first enters repayment, after periods of forbearance, and upon leaving all IDR plans except for IBR.

The Department is concerned that interest capitalization can adversely affect student loan borrowers by significantly increasing what they owe on their loans, which may extend the time it takes to repay them. While there are circumstances where interest capitalization is required by statute, such as when borrowers exit a deferment period and when they leave Income-Based Repayment, the Department believes that it is important to eliminate capitalization events where it has the authority to do so. Despite counseling, some borrower misunderstanding of interest accrual and capitalization and resulting confusion about the accuracy of one's loan balance contributed to the most frequent type of borrower complaint received by the Department. Qualitative evidence from focus groups with struggling borrowers also has shown that borrowers find capitalized interest to be complex and burdensome, noting that many borrowers do not realize which decisions result in capitalization and feel overwhelmed and frustrated by growing balances on loans. A recent study suggests that among borrowers entering an IDR plan after becoming delinquent on their payments, most fail to recertify and, as a result, have their interest capitalize.

Data from the 2003-04 Beginning Postsecondary Students Study (BPS), which tracked students from entry in 2003-04 through 2009 with an additional administrative match through 2015, sheds greater light on the distributional consequences of interest capitalization and the forbearance events that are a source of capitalization. The statistics that follow all concern students who first entered college in 2003-04 and borrowed a Federal student loan at some point within 12 years of entry (as of 2015). Among those students, 43 percent had a larger amount of principal balance outstanding in 2015 compared to what they originally borrowed.

Among borrowers who did not consolidate their loans ( e.g., the group for whom the growth in balance can be attributed to interest capitalization), 27 percent had a higher principal balance as seen in Table 4. Borrowers who are Black or African American, received a Pell Grant, and borrowers from low-income families are overrepresented in this group. Specifically, 52 percent of Black or African American borrowers had a higher principal balance compared to 22 percent of White borrowers. There are also differences based upon income, with 33 percent of Pell Grant recipients (versus 14 percent of non-recipients), and 34 percent of borrowers from families with income at or below the Federal poverty line at college entry (versus 22 percent of borrowers with income at least 2.5 times the Federal poverty line) having principal balances that exceed their original amount borrowed. Gaps also exist by attainment. Among borrowers who did not consolidate their loans, those who did not complete any degree or credential were 60 percent more likely to see their principal balance grow than bachelor's degree recipients.

While the BPS data cannot break down the exact sources of interest capitalization, this analysis indicates that borrowers in the groups most likely to experience capitalization also are more likely to experience periods in forbearance, which is one cause of interest capitalization. Nearly 80 percent of Black or African American student loan borrowers in the BPS sample had a forbearance at some point within 12 years of first enrollment as seen in Table 4 below. Among American Indian or Alaska Native or Hispanic or Latino borrowers, the rates of forbearance usage were 64 percent and 59 percent respectively. By contrast, about half of white students used a forbearance.

The results are similar by Pell Grant receipt and family income at college entry. Nearly two-thirds of Pell Grant recipients who also borrowed had a forbearance at some point compared to just 40 percent of non-Pell students. Among borrowers from families with income at or below the Federal poverty line in 2003-04, 64 percent had a forbearance at some point compared with 46 percent of borrowers from families with income at least 2.5 times the Federal poverty line at college entry. Finally, 62 percent of borrowers who did not complete a degree or credential had a forbearance, compared with 46 percent of those who earned a bachelor's degree.

Data from the same study also show that the groups of borrowers that are more likely to have had a forbearance also had more total forbearances within 12 years of entering college. On average, Black or African American borrowers who had at least one forbearance had nearly six forbearances compared to four for white borrowers as seen in Table 4. Similarly, borrowers who received a Pell Grant and had a forbearance had an average of nearly five forbearances, compared to just over three for non-Pell students. This means borrowers in these groups were subject to more capitalizing events than their peers.

Table 4—Principal Balance Growth and Forbearance Usage Among 2003-04 College Entrants Who Borrowed

Capitalizing events present a significant burden to borrowers as they see their balances quickly rise with interest capitalization that is compounded over time. The events described in the table below are circumstances in which the final regulations eliminate interest capitalization.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

As detailed in the Net Budget Impact section, the changes to interest rate capitalization are expected to reduce transfers from affected borrowers to the Federal government as their obligation to repay loans is lessened by the removal of capitalizing events. We estimate this transfer to have an annualized net budget impact of $1.29 billion and $1.26 billion at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rate, respectively. The main effects associated with the regulations represent a transfer from the Federal government to the eligible borrower, primarily forgone revenue from payments on the higher balance and resulting increase in interest due to elimination the capitalizing events listed above. These final regulations will also create some administrative costs for the Department, which will have to compensate servicers for the cost of changes to their systems to remove capitalizing events. More details on budgetary effects are provided in the Net Budget Impact Section.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

The Department anticipates that some borrowers may see the lack of capitalizing events for borrowers exiting certain IDR plans as enabling them to switch out of IDR and instead enroll in a Standard or other repayment plan. For some borrowers, this could mean that they pay less on either a monthly basis or over the life of the loan ( e.g., if they exit an IDR plan and enter an Extended or Graduated repayment plan with lower monthly payments).

The lack of capitalizing events can also have broader societal benefits by reducing debt burdens for groups that may be most affected by interest capitalization—borrowers from low-income families, Black borrowers, and borrowers who do not complete a college credential.

4.5 Total and Permanent Disability Discharges

The Department is committed to simplifying the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge process for eligible borrowers. In addition to allowing for automatic discharges when a borrower is identified through a data match with the Social Security Administration (SSA), which was announced in summer 2021, the Department is also finalizing these regulations for TPD to ensure it provides relief to eligible borrowers uniformly across its loan programs, including Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loans.

These final regulations expand the circumstances in which borrowers can qualify for TPD discharges based on a finding of disability by SSA. Currently regulations only allow borrowers to qualify for a discharge if SSA has designated the borrower's case as Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE). In this status, an individual's disability status is reviewed at 5 to 7 years, which fits the requirement in the HEA that a borrower have a disability that is expected to result in death or that has persisted or is expected to persist for at least 60 consecutive months while the borrower does not engage in gainful employment. These final regulations add the following additional circumstances, when supported by appropriate data or documentation from SSA: (1) the borrower qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on a Compassionate Allowance (applied where the applicant has an impairment that significantly affects their ability to function and meets SSA's definition of disability based on minimal, but sufficient, objective evidence; (2) SSA has designated the borrower's case as Medical Improvement Possible (MIP), (3) the borrower had a qualifying circumstance and has since begun to receive SSA retirement benefits; and (4) the borrower has an established onset date for SSDI or SSI that is at least 5 years prior to the TPD application or has been receiving SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability for at least 5 years prior to the TPD application. More borrowers will be eligible for TPD discharges based on a finding of disability by SSA with the addition of these categories.

These final regulations also eliminate the post-discharge income monitoring period. Currently, borrowers must supply their income information annually through a 3-year post-discharge monitoring period to ensure that they continue to meet the criteria for the program. If borrowers do not respond to these requests, their loans are reinstated, regardless of whether the borrowers' earnings are above set thresholds. The Department is concerned that high numbers of borrowers have their loans reinstated not because they fail to meet the criteria but simply because they fail to submit the required paperwork. The Government Accountability Office's (GAO) 2016 report on Social Security offsets reported that more than 61,000 loans discharged through TPD, totaling more than $1.1 billion, were reinstated in fiscal year 2015 alone; and that 98 percent of those were reinstated because the borrower did not provide the requisite information for the monitoring period. Meanwhile, an analysis conducted by the Department using Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data suggests that 92 percent of these borrowers did not exceed the earnings criteria required to retain their eligibility.

These final regulations streamline the process for applying for a TPD discharge where automation is not feasible. These final regulations amend the TPD regulations to expand allowable documentation that can be submitted as evidence of a qualifying disability status, including the current practice of accepting a Benefit Planning Query Handbook. We note that while this change will clarify an option that already exists for borrowers, the Department's hope is that the added categories of disability determinations will reduce the need for borrowers to rely upon a Benefit Planning Query Handbook in particular, which comes with a fee and may not always have all the necessary information within it. The final rule also expands the list of medical professionals eligible to certify an individual's total and permanent disability to include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified psychologists licensed at independent practice level by a State.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

As detailed in the Net Budget Impact section, the changes to total and permanent disability are expected to reduce transfers from affected borrowers to the Federal government as their obligation to repay loans is discharged. We estimate this transfer to have an annualized net budget impact of $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rate, respectively.

As a result of expanding the SSA categories that qualify for TPD discharges, the Department estimates increased costs to the taxpayer in the form of transfers to the additional borrowers who will be eligible for, and receive, TPD discharges.

Because more borrowers will be able to retain their discharges and not see their loans reinstated, the Department also anticipates that this change will increase costs to taxpayers in the form of transfers in direct benefits to those borrowers.

These final regulations expand allowable documentation and the list of certifying medical professionals are expected to modestly increase the amounts discharged through TPD through transfers to affected borrowers, as more borrowers overcome these barriers and apply for discharges.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

The Department believes that many more borrowers will be eligible for TPD discharges with the addition of SSA categories. The Department intends to update the data match with SSA, which if successful, could mean that borrowers who previously had to apply for a discharge through the physician's certification process would be identified through the match with SSA. Borrowers who fall into the MIP category currently may be applying under the physician's certification process, but the Department intends to try and capture some of these borrowers if we can successfully update the data match with SSA.

Eliminating the post-discharge income monitoring period will also ensure consistency between borrowers with an SSA determination of disability status and those with a determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Total and permanent disability discharges based on determinations by the VA are not subject to a post-discharge monitoring period (though some veterans may apply for or receive a TPD discharge based on an SSA determination instead). The Department believes this change will reduce the burden that borrowers with a total and permanent disability face in retaining their discharge, as the time and effort involved in providing income information during the monitoring process will be eliminated.

The Department also believes that expanding allowable documentation and the list of certifying medical professionals will increase transfers to borrowers through discharges by lowering administrative burdens that borrowers face, including in reducing the costs that borrowers face in obtaining the necessary documentation of their disability.

4.6 Closed School Discharges

These final regulations improve access to closed school loan discharges for borrowers who are unable to complete their programs due to the closure of their institution. While there are many closures that occur in an orderly fashion with advance notice, the majority of students affected by closures in the last several years were mid-program and unable to complete their program at the college where they started.

Through these final regulations, the Department aims to expand eligibility for closed school discharges. In 2016, the Department issued regulations that provided automatic closed school discharges to borrowers who were eligible for a closed school discharge but did not apply for one and who did not enroll elsewhere within 3 years of the institution's closure. A 2021 GAO report on college closures found that 43 percent of those eligible for a CSD had not re-enrolled 3 years later. GAO's data also found that 52 percent of the borrowers who received an automatic discharge had defaulted, while another 21 percent had been more than 90 days late at some point. Given this, these final regulations implement the automatic process for borrowers. These final regulations provide such automatic discharges 1 year after closure, which will significantly benefit affected borrowers.

Borrowers who left a school shortly before it closed can also receive a closed school discharge. However, the discharge windows have not been consistent across years for these borrowers. Loans made prior to July 1, 2020, were generally subject to a 120-day window, while borrowers with loans made after that date were subject to a 180-day window. These final regulations standardize the window, making it 180 days for all borrowers.

The Secretary can also extend this 180-day window under exceptional circumstances. However, the current non-exhaustive list does not include many events that may reasonably be associated with a closure, such as the accreditor issuing a show cause order. Additionally, the 2019 regulations removed items that were included in prior regulations, such as “a finding by a State or Federal government agency that the school violated State or Federal law.” These regulations expand this list to include this and several other items.

Finally, these final regulations provide clearer rules for when a borrower who transfers to another program could still receive an automatic closed school discharge. The past version of automatic closed school discharges required borrowers to apply for the discharge if they enrolled in another institution within 3 years of their original school's closure date. This is regardless of whether the new school they enrolled in accepted any credits or if the borrower finished. While a borrower who transferred but did not finish the program could apply for a closed school discharge, data from GAO show that very few of these borrowers did so. Excluding these individuals from the automatic closed school discharge in effect made the borrower's choice to continue their education needlessly high stakes. These final regulations address these concerns by stating that a borrower maintains access to an automatic discharge as long as they do not complete the program through a continuation of the program at another branch or location of their school or through an approved teach-out. Borrowers who accept but do not complete a continuation of the program or a teach-out agreement would receive a discharge 1 year after their last date of attendance at the other branch or location or in the teach-out.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

As detailed in the Net Budget Impact section, the changes to closed school discharge are expected to reduce transfers from affected borrowers to the Federal government as their obligation to repay loans is discharged. We estimate this transfer to have an annualized net budget impact of $758 million and $693 million at 7 percent and 3 percent discount rate, respectively. The Department will work to recover from institutions the amounts that the Secretary discharges and to leverage the processes already in place at § 668, part H. Based on historical closed school discharge data, the average discharge amount at the institutional level was $2.4 million based on discharge amounts from 573 closed institutions. Based on the same data, the majority of closed school discharge loan amounts (88.5 percent), were from closed proprietary schools. Table 6 illustrates the historical average closed school discharge amounts by institution type from 1991 through early April 2022, which are a good estimate of the discharge costs per loan by institution type for future closed school loan discharges.

Table 6—Closed School Discharge Amounts by Institution Group

The Department will also incur costs associated with the closed school discharges. These costs will represent a transfer of benefits between the Federal government and the borrower. The Department will have to discharge the affected loans prior to trying to recover the funds from the institutions in order to provide a timely discharge for the borrower. Ultimately, the size of the transfer from the Department to borrowers would be the difference in funds between the discharge amount and the recovery amount from the institution. The Department will also incur administrative costs associated with the process of recovering funds from closed institutions, especially in cases where the institutions may be facing litigation, such as due to bankruptcy or legal violations. This represents net new costs to the Department.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

Automatic loan discharges will significantly benefit affected borrowers who are eligible for a discharge. In particular, after entering repayment, affected borrowers may receive a discharge early enough to avoid default on their loans. The Department will also face a reduced administrative burden due to the reduced staff time required to review applications for borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria for a closed school discharge.

Lower-income students are also significantly more likely to benefit from closed school discharges. Of the more than 294,000 closed school discharges provided either through an application or automatically, 77 percent went to borrowers who also received a Pell Grant. A closed school discharge will be particularly important for a Pell Grant recipient because it will also afford an opportunity to reset their Pell Grant lifetime eligibility. This is critical given that these borrowers are likely to lose credits if they attempt to transfer to another program.

Regarding standardizing the closed school discharge window, the Department believes this will modestly increase eligibility for the discharge for some borrowers, though application rates for closed school discharge tend to be relatively low and are not likely to increase significantly. The Department is also expanding the non-exhaustive list of exceptional circumstances required for the Secretary to use their authority to extend the 180-day window. In certain cases, this will increase eligibility for closed school discharges, potentially by several years. However, this authority will be employed on a case-by-case basis and thus the overall impact is expected to be modest. In addition, automatic closed school discharge occurs 1 year after the school closure date for borrowers who do not take a teach-out or a continuation of the program at a branch or location of the school.

The Department believes that by removing the “comparable program” requirement and instead providing discharges for all borrowers unless they accept and complete an approved teach-out or finish a continuation of the program at another branch or location of the school will encourage borrowers to continue their education because they will still be able to keep their discharge if the teach-out or continuation option does not work for them. It also means a borrower who continues seeking higher education but loses all or most progress toward their degree will not have to worry about whether they will receive relief because they will receive an automatic discharge.

This approach will also encourage institutions to manage closures more carefully. In particular, institutions will have a stronger incentive to make sure borrowers have access to high-quality and affordable teach-out or continuation options; otherwise, the institution that is closing will face larger liabilities associated with closed school discharges. With higher-quality and affordable teach-outs or continuation options students will benefit from additional education. A large number of studies estimating the causal effect of college education on earnings suggest that each additional year of college generates annual earnings gains in the range of 7-15 percent. Moreover, education generates social benefits in the form of productivity spillovers, reduced crime, and increased civic participation.

4.7 Pre-Dispute Arbitration

These final regulations limit pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers in institutions' enrollment agreements to ensure borrowers have access to fair processes and to provide insight and evidence to the Department that may be needed to adjudicate BD claims. Mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers may allow institutions to minimize financial risk associated with wrongdoing and instead may shift the risk of wrongdoing to taxpayers and the Federal government through subsequent BD discharges. While the Department included a similar provision in its 2016 BD regulations, the prohibition was rescinded by the 2019 regulations.

Borrowers also may not understand the implications of agreeing to a mandatory pre-dispute arbitration requirement or a class action waiver and what that means for future attempts to seek relief. In a study on arbitration clauses, legal researchers surveyed a random sample of consumers and concluded respondents generally lacked an understanding about the terms of the arbitration agreement and what that meant for their ability to seek relief in court. These researchers expressed concern about whether the consent consumers provide when they enter into a contract that contains an arbitration clause is knowing consent, and therefore valid.

By prohibiting Direct Loan-participating institutions from using certain restrictive contractual provisions regarding dispute resolution and requiring notification and disclosure regarding their use of arbitration, schools will be prevented from keeping complaint information hidden from borrowers facing potential BD issues faced by their borrowers. Keeping complaint and arbitration information hidden from public view hinders the Department's ability to investigate patterns of student complaints.

In addition, borrowers' ability to pursue individual and class-action litigation will make it difficult for schools to hide potentially deceptive practices from current or prospective students and will allow students who have been harmed by an institution to sue for damages and recoup their financial losses. Providing a litigation option could also mitigate the potential conflict of interest between the arbitrators and the institutions that hire them, leading to fairer outcomes for students. Taxpayer dollars will be better protected by ensuring that grievances from enrollees in problematic schools could be publicly aired through the court system.

The Department notes that the impact of these changes will be largely limited to the private for-profit sector. In a 2016 study by an independent think tank, researchers looked at enrollment contracts of more than 270 institutions across the country. None of the public colleges surveyed and only one private nonprofit college required its students to agree to arbitration as a condition of enrollment. Among private for-profit colleges, the researchers found significant differences depending on whether the institution participated in the Federal student financial aid programs. A majority (93 of the 158) private for-profit colleges that participate in the Federal aid programs used a forced arbitration clause compared to just one of the 49 that do not participate in the aid programs.

Costs of the Regulatory Changes:

The costs associated with these final regulations would be affected by whether institutions are less likely to engage in behavior that could lead to an approved BD claim as a result of not using mandatory pre-dispute arbitration clauses or class action waivers. If institutions that engage in conduct that could lead to an approved BD claim do not change their behavior, then there could be a number of costs related to more grievances ending up in court. This will include the cost to students of seeking judicial intervention, though such costs may be offset if their claims in court are successful. Costs can also increase for institutions, as they tend to incur higher legal fees during litigation. Institutions will not only face higher administrative costs, but institutions are also likely to face higher number of settlements and the costs associated with them, as it is expected that the students will be able to reach more favorable decisions in court than during arbitration. These costs will, however, decrease if institutions currently engaging in conduct that could lead to an approved BD claim cease such conduct as a result of this change. These external factors do not represent any additional costs for the Department.

In addition to costs in the form of transfers to borrowers and administrative burden for the Department, there may be an increase in the time it takes to resolve disputes through non-arbitration means, as litigation proceedings rely on more detailed discovery and presentation of evidence than arbitration. Finally, bringing additional cases to court that have generally been resolved through arbitration may create a burden on the courts, leading to longer litigation time and increased costs for students and institutions.

Benefits of the Regulatory Changes:

Borrowers will see benefits due to the limitation on arbitration clauses and class-action waivers. Research indicates that the rate at which consumers receive favorable decisions in arbitration is quite low and the amounts they secure when they do are very small. Only 9 percent of disputes that go to arbitration end with relief for the consumer. When a 2015 CFPB report looked at cases from one of the major arbitration companies it found that consumers won just over $172,000 in damages and $189,000 in debt forbearance across more than 1,800 disputes in six different financial markets. By contrast, the CFPB's analysis of individual cases brought in Federal court for all but one of these markets found that consumers were awarded just under $1 million in cases where the judge issued a decision. It is difficult to directly compare the success rate for an individual in arbitration compared to those who take their claims to court because the overwhelming majority of cases end in settlements in which the results are not easily ascertainable. The same CFPB study referenced above found that about 50 percent of the more than 1,200 individual cases filed in Federal court that were analyzed resulted in settlement. But the analysis could not determine what share of those settlements were favorable to borrowers.

Given that pre-arbitration agreements are prevalent in for-profit institutions' enrollment agreements, these benefits will have a greater impact on Black students, who are more likely to attend for-profit institutions compared to other educational institutions. The prohibition will also support these students in filing BD claims where warranted.

5. Net Budget Impacts

These final regulations are estimated to have a net Federal budget impact in costs over the affected loan cohorts of $71.8 billion, consisting of a modification of $19.4 billion for loan cohorts through 2022 and estimated costs of $52.4 billion for loan cohorts 2023 to 2032. A cohort reflects all loans originated in a given fiscal year. Consistent with the requirements of the Credit Reform Act of 1990, budget cost estimates for the student loan programs reflect the estimated net present value of all future non-administrative Federal costs associated with a cohort of loans. Changes to the cost estimates for the final regulations involve an updated baseline that includes modifications for the limited PSLF waiver, the IDR account adjustment, the payment pause extension to December 2022, and the August 2022 announcement that the Department will discharge up to $20,000 in Federal student loans for borrowers who make under $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a family. Any additional changes are described in the relevant section for the various provisions.

The provisions most responsible for the costs of the final regulations are interest capitalization, PSLF, and TPD discharges. The specific costs for each provision are described in the following subsections covering the relevant topics.

5.1 Borrower Defense

As noted in this preamble, the regulatory provisions related to BD have undergone revisions starting in 2016 and then again in 2019 and the patterns of claim submission and processing have not reached a steady level to serve as a clear basis for estimating future claims. Additional claims are expected from existing loan cohorts, and the level and timing of claims from older cohorts is not likely to be indicative of claims for future cohorts, because BD was not an active area of loan discharges during the early years in repayment of those older cohorts. In addition, the institutions that to date have been among the largest sources of BD claims have been closed for many years. Therefore, we are using a revised version of the approach used to estimate the costs of BD for the 2016 and subsequent regulations to generate estimates for the BD provisions.

The Department's estimates were informed by looking at data from the borrower defense group within FSA about the number of claims received, the loan volumes associated with pending and approved claims, the type of school attended by the borrowers with submitted claims, and the years borrowers reported that they attended. We used this to establish assumptions about the source of BD claims and general cohorts associated with them. We then used data pulled from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) that are used in the scoring baseline and applied the assumptions described in this net budget impact analysis to generate the budget impact estimate.

As a reminder, these estimated costs reflect costs resulting from this regulation relative to baseline, not the overall cost of BD discharges. The estimated cost of the BD changes is a modification to cohorts through 2022 of $4.2 billion and a cost of $3.0 billion for cohorts 2023-2032. Where possible, we adjusted the assumptions made about school conduct, borrowers' chances of making a successful claim, and recovery rates to reflect information from pending claims.

More than three-quarters of BD claims are from borrowers who attended proprietary institutions, which does not include some borrowers who attended proprietary institutions that are now categorized as private nonprofit institutions. Just 5 percent of BD claims are from borrowers who attended public institutions. These amounts include institutions that have a significant number of claims and, therefore, may be more likely to have a group claim process applied to them. This is reflected in the school conduct assumption in Table 7.

While there are many factors and details that would determine the cost of the final regulations, ultimately a BD claim entered into the student loan model (SLM) by risk group, loan type, and cohort will result in a reduced stream of cash flows compared to what the Department would have expected from a particular cohort, risk group, and loan type. The net present value of the difference in those cashflow streams generates the expected cost of the final regulations.

In order to generate an expected level of claims for processing in the SLM, the Department used President's Budget 2023 (PB2023) loan volume estimates to identify the maximum potential exposure to BD claims for each cohort, loan type, and sector. For the final regulations, we updated this baseline to include modifications for the limited PSLF waiver announced in October 2021, adjustments to fix the count of qualifying payments on IDR announced in April 2022, the extension of the payment pause to December 2022, and the announcement of a one-time action to forgive up to $20,000 for Federal student loan borrowers. Including these additional items, particularly the debt cancellation costs, significantly reduces the net budget impact by lowering the scheduled principal and interest payments expected in the baseline. Other changes are described in the description of the budget estimates for each area. The Department expects that many borrowers who already have loans but have not yet filed a BD claim would have all or a significant portion of their loan balances eliminated by the broad-based forgiveness. For instance, the Department has noted that tens of millions of borrowers will be eligible for loan forgiveness, with significant numbers of those borrowers having all or at least half their balances eliminated. However, the broad-based forgiveness will not affect future loan volume because it is only eligible for currently outstanding debts. Other factors that would affect costs are the rate of consolidation from the FFEL program, the percentage of claims that go through a group process, the potential deterrent effect of claims on school practices, investigative activities of State authorities, increased borrower awareness of BD, and borrower eligibility for other discharges, especially closed school discharges.

As costs are estimated against a specific baseline, it is important to note that the President's Budget for 2023 assumed a higher level of BD claims based more on the 2016 assumptions than the 2019 regulation assumptions. The Department assumed a higher level of BD claims because claims processing and other announcements suggested that the number of successful claims would be increasing. Some of the costs that could have been attributed to the final regulations are already in the baseline as a result of this modeling change. To provide some information about this factor, the Department ran the President's Budget Fiscal Year 2023 (PB23) baseline with no allowance for approved BD claims and also with the 2019 regulatory assumptions applied. Running a scenario in the NPRM with no allowance for approved BD claims and no inclusion of later policy announcements like broad-based debt relief had a net budget impact of −$8.6 billion. Using the reduced adjustment associated with the 2019 regulations resulted in a net budget impact of −$8.0 billion in savings compared to the baseline that incorporates the additional policy announcements described above. The loan volumes and assumptions relied on to generate net borrower defense claims are described below and presented in Table 7. The Department only applied assumptions to non-consolidated Direct Loan volume to avoid applying a discharge to both a borrower's non-consolidated and consolidated loan volume. The effect of the regulations on consolidated loans thus reflects assumptions about FFEL volumes that are consolidated in Direct Loans. The FFEL claims generated were applied to the Death, Disability, and Bankruptcy (DDB) rates for Direct Loan consolidations. The PB23 volumes are summarized in Table 7 by loan type and institutional control. A more detailed version of the loan volumes will be available on the Department's Negotiated Rulemaking website.

The model to estimate BD claims under the final regulations relies upon the following factors:

Conduct Percent, which represents the share of loan volume estimated to be affected by institutional behavior resulting in a defense to repayment application. This percentage varies both by risk group ( e.g., 2-year proprietary, graduate borrowers, and 4-year nonprofit or public institutions). It also varies by cohort year, which reflects that the Department has observed decreases in enrollment, including from closures, at institutions with significant numbers of BD applications as well as estimated deterrent effects of the rule. The conduct percent thus ranges from a high of 18 percent of loan volume at proprietary colleges in the 2011 to 2016 cohorts to a low of 1 percent at public and private nonprofit institutions in the pre-2000 cohorts. These figures reflect the trends we have seen in the source of filed claims, whereby more than three-quarters of claims are associated with proprietary institutions and only 5 percent are from public institutions. The graduate risk group is the most complicated because it includes graduate borrowers from all sectors and because of how it is constructed it cannot be decomposed into individual types of institutions. The spike in conduct percentages in the 2011-2016 period also reflects that the Department has received significantly more claims from borrowers who attended during this period, which is also when many of the proprietary institutions that generated the largest number of claims were at their enrollment peaks. Several of those institutions, such as ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges, closed by the end of that period. Many others saw significant enrollment decreases or closed other chains or brands. As a result, we have significantly fewer claims associated with loans issued after 2017.

Group Process percent, which is the share of affected loan volume we expect to be subject to a group claim.

Claim Balance Adjustment Factor, which captures the potential change in borrowers' balances from origination to the time of their discharge and was added because this regulation addresses claims from older cohorts, not just future loan cohorts, so this factor could be more significant.

Borrower Percent, which is the percent of loan volume associated with approved defense to repayment applications; and

Recovery Percent, which estimates the percent of gross claims for which funds are recovered from institutions, with both of these varying by inclusion in a group process or not.

To generate gross claims volume (gc), loan volumes (lv) by risk group were multiplied by the Conduct Percent (cp), Group Process percent (gpp), the Claim Balance Adjustment factor (cbf), and the Borrower Percent for groups and individual claims (bp_g or bp_i). To generate net claims volume (nc) processed in the Student Loan Model, gross claims were then multiplied by the Recovery Percent. That is, gc = gc_g + gc_i when gc_g = (lv * cp * cbf * gc* bp_g) and gc_i= (lv * cp * cbf * (1−gc)* bp_i) and nc = nc_g + nc_i where nc_g = gc_g−(gc_g * rp_g) and nc_i = gc_i−(gc_i * rp_i). To put this another way, we first calculated separate estimates of gross claims volume for group and individual claims. We calculated the estimate for each of those amounts by taking the amount of loan volume in each risk group and multiplying it by the share of loan volume in that group expected to be associated with a BD claim (the conduct percent), adjustments for how balances might have changed from origination to discharge (the claim balance factor), and the estimate approval rate for claims. As a hypothetical example, if a risk group had $1 million in loan volume, no increase in balances between origination and discharge (a claim balance factor of 100%), 10 percent of balances associated with a BD claim and 50 percent of that amount was expected to be approved, the gross claims amount would be $50,000 ($1 million * 100% * 10% * 50%). We then multiplied the gross claims amount by estimates of the share that we would recover (the net recovery rate) to estimate the net claims cost.

Additional discussion of these factors follows their presentation in Table 7, with the comparable values for the 2016 and 2019 BD regulations presented in Table 8. To allow for the 2016 and 2019 assumptions to be compared, we collapsed the 2-year and 4-year distinction because the rates applied by institutional control were the same. The assumed levels of school conduct that would result in a potential BD claim remain fairly consistent across the regulations and anticipate some deterrent effect of the regulations. The assumed approval rate is a key driver in changing the net budget impact of the different borrower defense proposals.

Table 7—Assumptions for Primary BD Scenario

Table 8—Assumptions for Primary BD Scenarios in 2016 and 2019 Regulations

Conduct Percent:

As with previous estimates, the conduct percent reflects the fact that more than 75 percent of borrower defense claims have come from borrowers who attended proprietary institutions. This factor also captures the potential deterrent effect of the final regulations. As claims are processed and examples of conduct that results in claims become better known, we believe institutions will strive to avoid similar behavior. We also expect that the improvement or closing of some institutions that have significant findings against them, which should reduce the level of potential claims in future loan cohorts. The Department is already observing this phenomenon with existing BD claims. After peaking in 2010 at 2 million, enrollment in proprietary institutions has declined by nearly 50 percent, in part due to new regulation of the sector. The Department has also received significantly fewer BD claims associated with enrollment during this period of decline. Similarly, we received significant numbers of BD claims associated with enrollment that occurred just after the Great Recession in the 2011 to 2016 cohorts. This also reflects the high point of postsecondary undergraduate enrollment nationally, particularly among proprietary institutions. The conduct percent table thus reflects the correlation between enrollment levels and volume associated with BD claims. The volumes start out very low in the pre-2000s period when the number of borrowers was significantly lower, and most borrowers will have already paid off those loans and thus cannot file a BD claim. We then adjust the conduct percent upward with enrollment growth such that there are increases in each five-year period up to 2011-2016, with that period serving as the high point. The Department projected that the increases would be greatest in the 2005-2010 and 2011-2016 periods, which also corresponds with the biggest gains in enrollment, aided in part by fully online programs being eligible for title IV, as well as the peak of various lawsuits and investigations that allege conduct that if verified to be true would have a reasonable likelihood of leading to an approved borrower defense claim. The conduct percent then follows a slightly more gradual slope downward over time before reaching a final level that is elevated above our estimates for pre-2000 but lower than the other periods. We think that ultimate level reflects that the number of borrowers is still expected to remain well above the pre-2000s level for the extended future, and that as the Department continues to review claims there will be a continued deterrence effect to avoid conduct that could lead to an approved claim.

Group Process Percent:

The share of claims suitable for a group process is expected to vary by institutional control and loan cohort. The further back a cohort of loans were originated, the less likely there is to be evidence of conduct that would support a group claims process, so the group process percent for the pre-2000 loan cohort group is lower than for more recent years. Of current pending claims, approximately 90 percent of those expected to be subject to a group claims process have come from cohorts 2006 to 2016 and we would expect that period to generate the highest share of group claims. We expect conduct that will generate a group claim to decrease following the 2016 regulation and subsequent attention to BD, with more of an effect in future years when more claims have been processed through the system.

Claim Balance Factor:

The assumptions generating our BD claims are applied to volume estimates at origination, but BD claims are likely to happen several years into repayment when payments that have been made would be subject to refund or balances will have grown through accrued interest or fees. To account for this, the Department looked at BD claims in 2021 and determined the maximum potential claim between the claim amount, the current outstanding balance, and the balance when the loan entered repayment plus accumulated interest through 2021. This maximum balance was compared to the origination amount to generate an adjustment factor that was averaged across loan type. The factors applied to Stafford, PLUS, and Unsubsidized loans are 1.32, 1.68, and 1.54, respectively. These factors are based on balance comparisons for existing loans and include capitalization events that will be eliminated under this rule as well as potential interest accrual beyond the 180-day window for loan subject to a BD claim established in these regulations. Other changes, such as the revisions to IDR anticipated in a separate regulatory package, could also affect these adjustment factors. We are not reducing the adjustment factors for those potential effects to provide a conservative estimate of BD claims—that is, an estimate that offers a larger net budget impact than if all those other items were included. The interaction with other regulatory or legislative actions could affect future re-estimates of the net budget impact of the BD provisions. For instance, changes to IDR that increase borrower benefits would result in a decrease in the cost of the BD provisions because a loan discharge would result in less foregone revenue than previously anticipated. Similarly, there could be interactions between institutions that may have BD claims sustained against them and those that fail the 90/10 rule, which requires institutions to derive a certain share of their revenue from non-Federal sources. If those institutions fail the 90/10 requirement and lose access to title IV funding, then the cost of the BD provisions could fall since those institutions would not be able to make additional loans that could result in an approved BD claim.

Borrower Percent—Group and Individual:

This assumption captures the share of claims expected to lead to a discharge. Factors such as the Federal standard, reconsideration process, the number of claims against individual institutions, enrollment periods associated with the claims, and type of allegations seen to date affect these figures. For instance, the Department adjusted the borrower percent upward for individual claims compared to the 2019 regulation because this rule removes the requirement that we conclude that the act or omission was made with knowledge of its false, misleading, or deceptive nature, or with reckless disregard for the truth. Removing this requirement will result in more claims being approved. Similarly, the Department increased the borrower percent for group claims relative to the overall figure in the 2016 regulation to reflect both the inclusion of third-party requestors and the addition of more categories that could result in an approved BD claim. Overall, the borrower percent for group claims is significantly higher than the one for individual claims. This reflects that, to date, all but two of the institutions for which the Department has approved BD findings have eventually been converted into group discharges. The individual approval rate also includes the significant number of claims that are associated with an institution for which the Department has only received a couple of claims, suggesting that any approval is more likely to be a result of individual circumstances than a more common set of actions. For that reason, overall chance of approval is thus expected to be lower.

Recovery Percent—Group and Individual:

The recovery percent would vary by cohort and institutional control. To date the Department has only begun one recovery action related to approved BD claims, and it has yet to conclude. Historically, the Department has not had a high success rate in recovering other discharge liabilities, such as closed school discharges. The recovery rates for closed school discharges are particularly low because once an institution has closed, it is difficult to collect funds from it. Some BD claims will result in a similar situation if the institution has closed. In other cases, the likelihood of recovery may be higher because the institution is still in business, but the Department will have to successfully sustain the liability through any applicable appeal proceedings. Another factor that affects potential recoveries is the timing, as the limitations period and application of a standard to all claims pending or submitted after the effective date of the regulations may limit the Department's ability to recover claims related to activities many years ago. We expect claims for future cohorts to happen earlier in the repayment period of the loans and therefore to have a somewhat increased chance of recovery. Moreover, recovery efforts could only occur on claims that would have been approved under the standard in effect at the time the loan was disbursed and thus would not be attributed to this regulation.

The process to generate an estimated level of borrower defense claims under these final regulations remains the same as described in the NPRM, but the surrounding environment against which the potential claims are compared has evolved with recent policy announcements. Since the publication of the NPRM on July 13, 2022, several developments have been announced that further underscore the uncertainty associated with the cost estimate of the borrower defense provisions. Assuming borrowers with potential borrower defense claims qualify for loan forgiveness and the timing works so the forgiveness precedes processing of any borrower defense claim, the balances involved in the borrower defense claim will decrease. The extent to which they decline would vary based upon whether the borrower also has loans that are not associated with the borrower defense claim. However, the Department's estimates of future borrower defense claims and forgiveness are not linked to specific borrowers such that we could predict the extent of this potential reduction in future borrower defense claims at the borrower level. We considered information from evaluating the effect of loan forgiveness that found that approximately 46 percent of borrowers would receive full forgiveness, and, for those who receive partial forgiveness, the median reduction in their balance would be 43 percent. Applying overall income eligibility of 95 percent and a take-up rate of 82 percent, we reduced the borrower defense claims by 80 percent for undergraduate risk groups and 35 percent for the graduate risk group. Within claims processed to date, the average claim size varies by institution. For instance, in July 2021 the Department announced BD approvals of $500 million for approximately 18,000 borrowers who attended ITT Technical Institute, for an average of approximately $28,000 a borrower. Also in 2021, we announced the approval of $53 million in discharges for 1,600 borrowers who attended Westwood College, with an average amount of $33,000. When the Department approved a group discharge for 28,000 borrowers who attended Marinello Schools of Beauty, that resulted in discharging $238 million, or approximately $8,500 per borrower.

If approved, the settlement proposed in the Sweet v. Cardona case would also have a significant effect on the net budget impact of this rule attributed to past cohorts. The settlement agreement that received preliminary approval in July 2022 would result in the upfront discharge for an estimated 200,000 borrowers who attended certain institutions and a streamlined review of applications for tens of thousands of other applicants. All discharges from those two processes would be considered settlement relief, not an approved BD claim. They would, however, reduce the number of claims to be approved after the effective date of this regulation, which would in turn reduce the cost of this regulation. The settlement would not result in changes in the approval rate for claims associated with borrowers who applied after the settlement agreement was reached on June 22, 2022.

To model this scenario, the Department halved the conduct percentage for cohorts prior to 2022. This represents the rough split of the number of claims covered by the settlement and the number outside the class. This reduction in the conduct percentage results in reduced loan volume associated with BD claims, without changing the approval rate for future claims.

To address uncertainty in our assumptions more generally, we also developed some alternate scenarios to capture a range of net budget impacts from the BD regulations. The low budget impact scenario reduces the group percentage and increases recoveries to the 37 percent maximum assumed in the 2016 regulations. We chose this level for approvals because the 2016 regulation also formally included a group process. We predict fewer discharges due to the inclusion of other categories under which a claim could be approved, the addition of third-party requestors, and procedures that more clearly separate approving group claims from recoupment efforts. We also thought using the higher recovery estimate for that regulation would be appropriate because the 2016 regulation is more similar to this rule than the 2019 rule, which does not allow for group claims.

The high budget impact scenario assumes a smaller deterrent effect and keeps the highest conduct percent for an additional cohort range and shifts the 2017-2022 and 2023-28 percentages to the next cohort range. It also increases the highest group percentage and maintains that level for future cohorts; and eliminates all recoveries. The revised assumptions for these scenarios are detailed in Table 9 with the results presented in Table 10.

Table 9—Revised Assumptions for Alternate Scenarios

Table 10—Budget Estimates for BD Scenarios Runs

5.2 Closed School Discharge

These final regulations are expected to increase closed school discharges by creating a uniform 180-day enrollment window, increasing the use of administrative data to provide discharges without an application, limiting the circumstances where a borrower cannot receive an automatic discharge, and some other process changes. To estimate the effect of these changes, the Department generated a data file summarizing borrower loan amounts for different enrollment windows prior to closure as well as any existing discharges associated with those loans. This was used to generate a ratio of potential additional claims compared to current discharges to be applied to the closed school component of the discharge assumption. The adjustment factor varied by loan model risk group from 1.11 to 7.46 and was applied to all cohorts for claims from 2023 on. To capture the effect of loan forgiveness on closed school discharges for past cohorts that have not been processed yet, we applied a reduction in the increase associated with the regulations of 70 percent for undergraduate risk groups, 45 percent for the graduate risk group, and 60 percent for the consolidation risk group. This is based on information that approximately 77 percent of borrowers with a closed school discharge were Pell Grant recipients with potential eligibility for up to $20,000 in forgiveness. We also assume that around 95 percent of closed school borrowers would meet the income eligibility requirements, which is slightly higher than what is assumed for the overall forgiveness eligibility. We also applied an 82 percent overall take-up rate for forgiveness to generate an estimated average forgiveness eligibility of approximately $13,710 ((.77*20,000) + (.22*10,000) *.95 * .82)). We also looked at the distribution of closed school discharges in Budget Service's November 2021 sample of NSLDS data by risk group. This amount is above the overall mean closed school discharge of $11,409 and close to the mean for all sectors except graduate students, whose mean discharge is $35,738. We did not eliminate all the effect of future closed school discharges for past cohorts. Borrowers who would be eligible for a closed school discharge but do not apply may be less likely to apply for loan forgiveness. Alternatively, depending on the timing of any application needed, they may be processed for a closed school discharge in advance of any forgiveness being applied. Therefore, we used the factors described above to reduce the estimated increase in transfers associated with the closed school discharge, but we expect the attribution of discharges and forgiveness to become clearer as more data become available in the next year or two, which future re-estimates of the loan program will take into account.

Together, the changes related to the closed school provisions cost $3.42 billion for past cohorts and $3.04 billion for cohorts 2023-2032.

5.3 Total and Permanent Disability

The main driver of the Department's estimated costs for the total and permanent disability provisions of the final regulation is the inclusion of additional circumstances in which borrowers can qualify for discharge based on a finding of disability by SSA. These changes are expected to result in additional transfers to borrowers. We did not adjust the net budget impact for the change in the final rule to grant a discharge after the initial determination that the borrower qualifies for SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability and the borrower's next continuing disability review has been scheduled at 3 years. We do not expect this to adjust the net budget impact, because almost all of those borrowers are expected to have that disability determination continue and thus they would have been eligible even without this provision. The Department's existing data match with SSA does not provide the data needed to estimate the increased discharge from this change. We estimate from SSA data that the added categories have 300,000 additional borrowers compared to approximately 323,000 borrowers included in the categories already eligible through the match from September 2021. However, this is not necessarily through the physician's certification process, rather than receiving the discharge automatically through a data match. The Department intends to update the data match with SSA and hopes that if successful more borrowers will be captured under that match in the future. Thus, some of these borrowers will not be a new discharge but rather could simply be moving between categories. To estimate this effect, the Department used an adjustment factor in the TPD match with SSA in the Death, Disability, and Bankruptcy DDB assumption from 1.5 to 2.25, resulting in the $4.3 billion modification to past cohorts and $9.3 billion for cohorts 2023-2032. The initial adjustment factor was based on data related borrowers in the SSA match prior to September 2020 when it was an opt-in process that indicated total discharges were around 40 percent of total loan disbursements and around 70 percent of outstanding balances across all risk groups and cohorts. As is the case with the other discharge provision in this regulation, future TPD claims of past borrowers will be affected by the loan forgiveness announced in August. An analysis of discharges in Budget Service's November 2021 sample of NSLDS data indicates that TPD has a higher average discharge than closed school ($26,161, compared to $11,409) so the potential forgiveness is a lower percentage of disability claim. We estimated an average eligibility for forgiveness of $11,055 based on the following assumptions: (1) 62 percent Pell recipients; (2) 75 percent take-up; and (3) 91 percent income eligibility [((.62*20,000) + (.38*10,000) * .75 *.91) = $11,057]. This is a little over 40 percent of the average TPD discharge in our sample data, so we reduced the increase applied to our TPD adjustment by 40 percent. While there is still an increase in transfers to borrowers for the TPD provisions, the effect on older cohorts is reduced because of the forgiveness. The other provisions to expand the types of medical professionals who can support an application and otherwise make the process of obtaining a discharge easier could also increase transfers to borrowers through total and permanent disability discharges. The Department does not have information to estimate this increase but assumes most of the future discharges will be through the automatic matches, provided that it can successfully update the data match with SSA, so the effect of these changes will be lower than the recent opt-out match provisions. We did not explicitly assign a certain percentage of the increased adjustment factor to these administrative changes but would not expect it to be more than 0.10 percent of the total effect with the additional eligibility categories being more significant. By itself, that increase in TPD discharges will increase costs by $3.8 billion. We do not estimate a significant cost impact from the elimination of the 3-year monitoring period for reinstatement of payment obligations because our baseline is conservative in assuming that many of those income monitoring issues eventually get resolved. To estimate the effect of this provision, we did run a version of the DDB assumption that excluded any reinstatements from the disability claims from the PB23 baseline for the NPRM published July 13, 2022, but the resulting effect was not significant enough to change the overall discharge rate at the four decimal level used in the student loan model.

5.4 Public Service Loan Forgiveness

These final PSLF regulations have an estimated cost of $4.0 billion as a modification to cohorts through 2022 and $15.6 billion for cohorts 2023-2032. These figures include an update from the NPRM to include the cost of the limited PSLF waiver announced in October 2021, adjustments to the counting of progress toward income-driven repayment announced in April 2022, and the announcement of a one-time action to discharge up to $20,000 of student loan debt in August 2022. Incorporating those items has reduced the cost of the regulation compared to the NPRM. PSLF is estimated as part of our IDR modeling, which is done on at the borrower- and loan-type level so the effects of loan forgiveness can be taken more directly into account. There is no special adjustment for forgiveness in PSLF as there was for borrower defense, closed school, or total and permanent disability. Instead, the reduction in the borrower's balance affects the scheduled payments of principal and interest against which the effect of PSLF is evaluated.

The change to include certain periods of deferment or forbearance to count toward PSLF and to count payments made on underlying loans prior to consolidation will reduce the time period for some existing PSLF recipients to achieve forgiveness. The Department used information linking consolidations to underlying loans to determine the months paid prior to consolidation and used that to reduce the time to PSLF forgiveness for affected borrowers. A similar process was followed for the deferments and forbearances that count toward PSLF. Estimated deferments and forbearances are tracked for PSLF borrowers in the budget model, and for the final change, time associated with qualifying deferments and forbearances were included toward the 10 years of monthly payments required for forgiveness.

One change in these final PSLF regulations concerns the treatment of individuals who work as a contractor for a qualifying employer in a position or providing services that, under applicable State law, cannot be filled or provided by a direct employee of the qualifying employer. The most cited example of borrowers in this situation are doctors at non-profit hospitals in California and Texas. The Department's PSLF estimates have never been State or occupation specific. Therefore, the Department estimated the effect of this provision by instead increasing the percentage of borrowers with graduate loans who would receive PSLF by 3 percentage points. The Association of American Medical Colleges has reported that 73 percent of medical school graduates had educational debt and the median educational debt of indebted graduates was $200,000. Together, these changes with respect to consolidations led to the $19.7 billion estimated increase in transfers for the PSLF changes.

Allowing installments and late payments to count toward PSLF will result in borrowers being more likely to reach 120 qualifying payments at the same time they have 120 months of qualifying employment. This is in contrast to the situation prior to the limited PSLF waiver where the large numbers of payments not being counted meant that borrowers often needed far more than 120 months of qualifying employment to reach the same number of qualifying payments. Reconsideration should also help those who had issues with their initial applications. These factors are not specifically modeled in this estimate, as the Department does not have data at this time regarding these factors. Moreover, the Department believes that the limited PSLF waiver has addressed many of the situations where a borrower would have sought reconsideration related to whether past payments qualify. These factors are not explicitly accounted for in the Department's baseline, which assumes those who we project have qualifying employment would make payments in such a way that they qualify. The effects of the limited PSLF waiver, which fixed many of these issues for borrowers who had previously applied for PSLF, are included. The administrative and definitional factors are captured to some degree by a ramp up to the maximum percentage of borrowers assumed to receive PSLF forgiveness in our modeling, with levels that reflect the low percent of PSLF forgiveness in the initial years of borrowers potentially being eligible. This ramp up can be seen in Table 11 and varies by cohort range and education level. To better reflect the trends in the program of increasing qualifying payments as borrowers learn about the forms, etc., the model specifies the percent achieving 120 months of qualifying for four time groups: group 0 is prior to 2010; group 1 is from 2010 to 2014; group 2 is from 2015 to 2020; and group 3 is after 2020. The percentages are assumptions based upon the trends in approved applications given forgiveness and trends in reasons for denial that pre-dated the PSLF waiver. As always, we will reflect updated information in future budget re-estimates.

To provide a sense of the effect of these changes, the Department considered an alternate scenario that increased the PSLF percent to the highest level we consider reasonable given the level of employment in government or nonprofit sectors, based on U.S. Census bureau data on employment sector by educational attainment. As seen in Table 11, this varies by education level with graduate students at 38 percent in the alternate scenario compared to 33 percent in the primary scenario and approximately 32 percent and 20 percent for 4-year and 2-year college groups, respectively. In the alternate scenario, we increased the maximum PSLF percent and shifted the ramp-up so each cohort range took the percentages from the cohort range to the level of the following cohort in the baseline, resulting in the PSLF percentages shown in Table 11 under Alternate Scenario. For example, the percentage for graduate borrowers went from 3.4 percent to 16.2 percent for cohorts before 2011. The PSLF percent is the percentage of borrowers assumed to receive PSLF in our modeling and ramps up across years. An increase in the PSLF percent results in additional forgiveness. We are showing increases in the PSLF percent because nothing in the regulations will lead to reduced PSLF forgiveness compared to our baseline level. The alternate scenario is on top of the other changes in the regulation to award credit toward PSLF for certain deferments and forbearances and allow borrowers to keep progress toward PSLF from payments made on a Federally managed loan prior to consolidation.

Table 11—Alternate Assumptions for Percentage of Borrowers Receiving PSLF by Cohort Range Under Different Scenarios

A few commenters requested additional information about the basis for the PSLF estimate. The percentages in Table 11 are the key factors in generating PSLF estimates. PSLF is estimated as part of the Department's IDR modeling that generates annual payments, deferment, and forbearance status, and expected annual principal and interest payments for borrowers assumed to be in IDR plans. Events that are expected to change the expected stream of payments such as defaults, discharges, PSLF, or prepayments are probabilistically assigned according to percentages based on historical trends or, in the case of PSLF, expected qualification by educational level. The rates vary by cohort range and student loan model risk group. In IDR, risk group is based on the borrower's highest academic level and events, such as default or discharge, are assigned probabilistically by borrower. As more borrowers submit employment certifications and start to receive PSLF, the Department will continue to revise and update its PSLF estimates.

The net budget impact of the reduced transfers from borrowers to the government from increased forgiveness in this alternate scenario is shown in Table 12.

Table 12—Net Budget Impacts of PSLF in Primary and Alternate Assumptions

The modification cost for early cohorts is significantly affected by the increase in the alternate scenario because the baseline PSLF levels for the 2010 cohort and earlier are lower than the outyear cohorts as seen in Table 12. Recall that the primary estimate reflects the level of forgiveness seen in the program to date. The changes in the baseline to incorporate the PSLF waiver and the broad-based debt relief reduced the net budget impact of the PSLF provisions in these final regulations relative to the NPRM. Table 12 shows the net budget impact of this rule as well as in an alternate scenario.

5.5 Interest Capitalization

These final regulations remove all interest capitalization on Direct Loans that is not required by the HEA and is estimated to have a net budget impact of $24.8 billion from reduced transfers from borrowers, consisting of a modification to cohorts through 2022 of $3.4 billion and increased outlays of $21.4 billion for cohorts 2023-2032. The estimated impact of $24.8 billion is for loans in all types of repayment plans, but the estimation process differs for non-IDR and IDR loans as noted below. The revised score for these final regulations is for the calculation as done in the revised SLM. The baseline for the final estimate also incorporates the scores for the PSLF Waiver, IDR account adjustment, and extension of the COVID-19 payment pause until December 2022, and broad-based debt relief.

Interest capitalization is calculated in the Student Loan Model in accordance with specific conditions, so to estimate this cost for non-IDR loans, we must turn off that capitalization as applicable. We expect the removal of capitalization upon entering repayment to be the primary driver of the net budget impact for these provisions, since it affects all borrowers from the effective date of the regulations. We do not anticipate that removing capitalization on the alternative plan will have noticeable budgetary effect because, so few borrowers use that plan. For the NPRM, we calculated an adjustment factor by loan type, cohort, non-IDR repayment plan, years since loan origination, and SLM risk group to represent the effect of removing capitalization upon entering repayment to generate the net budget impact for non-IDR loans. The adjustment factors varied significantly with later cohorts having increased adjustment since more of the cohort will enter repayment following the effective date of the final regulations. After the publication of the NPRM, we continued to revise the SLM to eliminate capitalization upon entering repayment. The model code was revised to accrue interest but not add it to the principal balance.

For the interest capitalization that affects IDR borrowers, we adjusted the calculations in our IDR sub-model that capitalized interest. One limitation to note is that our current IDR modeling does not estimate borrowers leaving IDR plans so there is no capitalization for that in the baseline and no impact of that provision (leaving PAYE and REPAYE) in this estimate. However, we did create a capitalization event based on the estimated probability that a borrower will leave PAYE or REPAYE in 2023 or later. This estimate does not change the borrowers' plan or subsequent payments and just captures the effect of capitalization at that point. The final regulations will result in reduced repayments from borrowers by removing capitalization for leaving PAYE or REPAYE. When this provision was analyzed for the NPRM we estimated a net budget impact of $108.3 million, consisting of a modification to past cohorts of $29.8 million and $79.5 million for cohorts 2023-2032. While interest capitalization is a fairly straightforward calculation, there are several sources of uncertainty for these estimates. As mentioned, the SLM was revised to account for the elimination of capitalization upon entering repayment. However, not all of the potential effects for the full level or timing of capitalization events that are being eliminated are included for non-IDR borrowers. Additionally, while entering repayment and the timing patterns for that are supported by significant history, other capitalization events affected by the final regulations may be more subject to behavioral changes. Predicting effects of eliminating capitalization related to forbearances or defaults does depend on having the level, timing, repayment plan, and risk group mix of those underlying events estimated accurately. If the pattern of those events changes from historical trends as borrowers return to payment following the Covid payment pause, the costs associated with eliminating capitalization for those events will vary from what we have estimated here.

5.6 Pre-Dispute Arbitration Clauses

The Department does not estimate a significant budget impact on title IV programs from the prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements and the related disclosures. It is possible that borrowers not having to go through arbitration could result in some additional BD claims, but we expect those costs have been captured in the BD score. Disclosure of certain judicial and arbitral records may cause some borrowers to enroll at other institutions than they would have attended, but we expect that borrowers will receive similar amounts of aid overall, so we do not estimate a significant impact on the title IV portfolio from these changes.

5.7 False Certification

The final regulations change the false certification discharge rules to establish common false certification discharge procedures and eligibility requirements, regardless of when a loan was originated, and to clarify that the Department will rely on the borrower's status at the time the loan was originated, rather than when the loan was certified, for determining false certification discharge. The revisions to the identity theft provisions will make it easier for affected borrowers to provide evidence for a discharge.

All of the provisions related to false certification should increase transfers to borrowers through additional false certification discharges. Under existing regulations, false certification discharges represent a very low share of discharges granted to borrowers. Over the past 5 years, approximately 6,000 borrowers have received a total of $58 million in false certification discharges, compared to approximately 788,000 borrowers and $29.9 billion in disability discharges, 461,000 borrowers and $11.4 billion in death discharges, and 180,000 borrowers and $2.5 billion in closed school discharges. The Department does not expect an increase in false certification claims to result in a significant budget impact. The Department will continue to evaluate the changes to the false certification discharge.

6. Accounting Statement

As required by OMB Circular A-4, we have prepared an accounting statement showing the classification of the expenditures associated with the provisions of these regulations. This table provides our best estimate of the changes in annual monetized transfers as a result of these final regulations. Expenditures are classified as transfers from the Federal Government to affected student loan borrowers.

Table 13—Accounting Statement: Classification of Estimated Expenditures (in millions)

7. Alternatives Considered

In response to comments received and the Department's further internal consideration of these final regulations, the Department reviewed and considered various changes to the proposed regulations detailed in the NPRM. The changes made in response to comments are described in the Analysis of Comments and Changes section of this preamble. We summarize below the major proposals that we considered but which we ultimately declined to implement in these regulations. The rationales for why these proposals were not accepted are explained in the places in the preamble where they are summarized and discussed. The Department did not receive significant alternative proposals related to interest capitalization, so it is not discussed here.

7.1 Borrower Defense

We considered some proposals to remove elements of the Federal standard related to breach of contract, aggressive and deceptive recruitment, or judgments, which would have resulted in fewer claims being approved by narrowing the acts or omissions that could give rise to an approved claim. We also considered adding requirements that the Department conclude that an institution acted with intent or that the claim had a material effect. These changes would also result in approving fewer claims by creating requirements that would be harder for an individual borrower to meet. We also considered the removal of group claims or requirements for individual showing of harm, which would have further limited the number of approved claims, in particular by not providing a path to discharges for borrowers who did not submit applications. We declined to accept any of these proposals and instead made other changes to the Federal standard to require that the Department conclude an institution's act or omission caused detriment that warrants the relief granted by a borrower defense discharge. This includes specifying that in making such a determination the Secretary will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the nature and degree of the acts or omissions and of the detriment caused to borrowers. We also considered but rejected proposals to add additional steps for institutions to ask for reconsideration of approved claims or conduct recoupment actions under part 668, subpart G but felt that the final rules provide sufficient opportunities for institutional due process and that part 668, subpart H is the more appropriate mechanism for recoupment. It is unclear if these changes would have resulted in different ultimate decisions, but they would have significantly extended the process of reviewing claims. We considered additional examples or processes for calculating the amount of a partial discharge but ultimately concluded only allowing for a full discharge would create a simpler and more effective standard. The range of suggestions for partial discharge could have either resulted in fewer claims being approved for a full discharge or more claims that would have received a partial discharge getting a full approval. We considered requests to allow for the simultaneous assertion of claims under State law, but kept it limited to reconsideration. Commenters asserted that this change would result in faster second reviews of claims that are not approved under the Federal standard. Finally, we considered but did not accept proposals to stop interest accumulation on individual claims immediately because we want to encourage borrowers to submit strong claims. This would have increased the size of transfers to borrowers and represented a greater cost to the Department.

7.2 False Certification

The Department created a new form for a common law forgery loan discharge for borrowers whose signature was forged by someone other than a school employee. This applied only to Department-held Federal student loans, but the Department is encouraging other loan holders to create a process like this one. Until we launched this form, the Department evaluated all forgery claims using the discharge forms that only apply where the school falsified a signature or if there was a judicially proven crime of identity theft. This new form for a common law forgery loan discharge provides borrowers an alternative option. But it would not benefit many borrowers who do not fit into the false certification categories since the number of applications under the FFEL Program is very small and would continue to shrink.

The Department considered relying on the disbursement date as an alternative to relying on the origination date. Doing so would allow an institution to originate loans for students who have not yet met Title IV eligibility requirements and not disburse the funds until the student has met the requirements. This would potentially have decreased the number of false certification discharges, which would then decrease the size of transfers to borrowers and the cost to the Department. However, under the HEA, if a school is not granted a certain period of time to remedy a false certification and, the loan is certified before, not after, the loan is originated. An institution should not originate a loan for a borrower who is not eligible for the loan. Relying on the origination date will also help ensure that no inadvertent disbursements are made to ineligible students.

The Department considered whether to expand eligibility for false certification discharges to cover circumstances such as barriers to employment. However, we are concerned that de facto barriers to employment ( e.g., jobs that likely would not hire someone with a criminal background, despite there being no specific related requirement for State licensure in that field) rather than explicit prohibitions ( e.g., jobs that cannot legally be held by someone with a criminal background) would create a substantial burden on institutions to be aware of such barriers and may not reliably identify borrowers eligible for such discharge. This alternative could have increased the transfers to borrowers by approving more false certification discharges, but as noted it would have been challenging for this to occur in practice given the complexity of determining what constitutes a barrier to employment.

7.3 Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Department considered but ultimately declined to allow any additional deferments and forbearances to receive credit toward PSLF. Such a change would have increased transfers to borrowers by making them eligible for loan forgiveness sooner. We also considered allowing all contractors for a qualifying employer to qualify for PSLF but chose not to do so. This would have resulted in significantly larger transfers to borrowers by dramatically increasing the number of borrowers who would be eligible for PSLF.

7.4 Total and Permanent Disability Discharges

The Department did not accept proposals to keep the 3-year income monitoring period or to not expand the categories of medical professionals that could sign forms during the physician's certification process. Both changes would have decreased transfers to borrowers by either reinstating more loans that had been discharged or resulting in potentially fewer applications through the physician's certification process.

7.5 Closed School Discharges

The Department considered but ultimately did not adopt requests to limit discharges to borrowers who left a school within 120 days of a closure instead of 180 days, granting a 12-month deferment for a borrower after their school closes, restricting eligibility for borrowers who enrolled in a comparable program or attempted to enroll in a teach-out but did not complete the program. These changes would have had differing effects. A shorter lookback window or greater restrictions on eligibility would result in decreased transfers to borrowers because fewer discharges would be granted. A longer deferment, meanwhile, would increase transfers by providing approximately six months of no-interest accumulation for a borrower beyond the grace period after leaving school.

7.6 Pre-Dispute Arbitration

The Department considered but did not accept proposals to delete this provision or not mandate the associated transparency. The Department did not assign a significant estimated budget impact from the changes to pre-dispute arbitration so its elimination would not have a budgetary effect either.

8. Regulatory Flexibility Act

Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act allows an agency to certify a rule if the rulemaking does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines “small institution” using data on revenue, market dominance, tax filing status, governing body, and population. The majority of entities to which the Office of Postsecondary Education's (OPE) regulations apply are postsecondary institutions, however, which do not report such data to the Department. As a result, for this final rule, the Department will continue defining “small entities” by reference to enrollment, to allow meaningful comparison of regulatory impact across all types of higher education institutions.

Table 14—Small Institutions Under Enrollment-Based Definition

Table 15 summarizes the number of institutions affected by these final regulations.

Table 15—Estimated Count of Small Institutions Affected by the Final Regulations

The Department certifies that Final Rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The final regulations for False Certification, PSLF, TPD Discharge, and Closed School Discharge will not have an impact on small institutions.

These types of discharges are between the borrower and the lender, which often is the Department. The Department anticipates this will impact 310 small lenders that will be required to expand their current reporting and will take approximately 50 hours to update their systems. A few small institutions could be impacted by the final regulations where there is a large group BD claim. Based on recent experience of the Department adjudicating BD cases, small institutions are not expected to be impacted by the final regulations in BD because the Department is unlikely to attempt to recoup from isolated BD cases from small institutions. The changes to eliminate interest capitalization will not have an impact on small institutions as this is also an action between the borrower and lender.

The Department anticipates approximately 38 percent of small institutions will be impacted by these pre-dispute arbitration final regulations. We derived the percentage that will be impacted from a report by the Century Foundation that sampled schools using arbitration clauses in their enrollment contracts. Of the sampled schools, 62 percent of proprietary institutions and 2.9 percent of private nonprofit institutions used arbitration clauses. The study found public schools did not utilize arbitration clauses. We applied those proportions to the number of small proprietary institutions (both 2 year and 4 year) and private nonprofit (both 2 year and 4 year) and arrived at 1,285 or 38.01 percent of total small business institutions. We do not anticipate there is a significant cost impact to amend future contracts.

Table 16—Estimated Annual Cost Range for Small Institutions and Entities Affected by the Final Regulations

While these final regulations will have an impact on some small institutions and entities, there will not be a significant cost and compliance impact. For example, we examined potential costs to lenders who are generally identified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) under code 52 (finance and insurance) and specifically Credit Unions (522130) and Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (522180). We are unable to specifically identify the number of lenders that constitute small entities. However, of the universe of over 12,000 lenders with remaining volume in the FFEL portfolio, more than two-thirds have 10 or fewer borrowers with outstanding balances. As no new FFEL Program loans have been made since 2010, this is not the primary business line for these entities. Therefore, we believe that changes to the loan portfolio would have minimal impact on most lenders, including small entities.

9. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the Department provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This helps ensure that the public understands the Department's collection instructions, respondents can provide the requested data in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the Department can properly assess the impact of collection requirements on respondents.

Sections 668.41, 668.74, 674.33, 674.61, 682.402, 682.414, 685.213, 685.214, 685.215, 685.219, 685.300, 685.304, 685.402, 685.403, and 685.407, of this final rule contain information collection requirements. Under the PRA, the Department has or will at the required time submit a copy of these sections and an Information Collections Request to OMB for its review.

A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless OMB approves the collection under the PRA and the corresponding information collection instrument displays a currently valid OMB control number. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to comply with, or is subject to penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information if the collection instrument does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

Section 668.41—Reporting and disclosure of information.

Requirements: These final regulations remove the requirements in current Section 668.41(h). Burden Calculation: With the removal of the regulatory language in Section 668.41(h), the Department will remove the associated burden of 4,720 hours under OMB Control Number 1845-0004.

Student Assistance General Provisions—Student Right to Know (SRK)—OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 1845-0004

Section 668.74—Employability of graduates.

Requirements: In the course of adjudicating BD claims, the Department has persistently seen misrepresentations about the employability of graduates. In these regulations, the Department is explicitly including, as a form of job placement rate misrepresentation, placement rates that are inflated through manipulation of data inputs. Section 668.74(g)(2) contains a provision that allows the Department to verify that an institution correctly calculated its job placement rate by requiring an institution to furnish to the Secretary, upon request, documentation and other data that was used to calculate the institution's employment rate calculations.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will impose only a modest burden on the part of any institution to provide the existing background data upon which the employment rates that are presented were calculated. We believe that such required reporting will be made by 2 Private Not-for-profit, 2 For-Profit and 2 Public institutions annually. We anticipate that 6 institutions will receive such a request and that it will take 8 hours to copy and prepare for submission to the Department such evidence of their calculated employment rates for a total of 48 burden hours (6 institutions × 1 response × 8 hours = 48 burden hours).

Student Assistance General Provisions—OMB Control Number 1845-0022

Sections 674.33(g), 682.402(d), and 685.214—Closed School Discharge.

Requirements: These final regulations amend the Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loan regulations to simplify the closed school discharge process. Sections 674.33(g)(4), 682.402(d)(3) and 685.214(d)(1) provide that the borrower must submit a completed closed school discharge application to the Secretary and that the factual assertions in the application must be true and made by the borrower under penalty of perjury. Additionally, the number of days that a borrower had withdrawn from a closed school to qualify for a closed school discharge will be extended from 120 days to 180 days.

Burden Calculation: These changes will require an update to the current closed school discharge application form. We do not believe that the language update will significantly change the amount of time currently assessed for the borrower to complete the form from those which has already been approved. The form update will be completed and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. The burden changes will be assessed to OMB Control Number 1845-0058, Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins).

Sections 674.61, 682.402(d), and 685.213—Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge.

Requirements: Under these final rule changes to Sections 674.61(b)(2)(iv), 682.402(c)(2)(iv), and 685.213(b)(2), a TPD discharge application will be allowed to be certified by a nurse practitioner, a physician's assistant licensed by a State, or a certified psychologist, licensed at the independent practice level by a State in addition to a physician who is a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy legally authorized to practice in a State. The type of SSA documentation that may qualify a borrower for a TPD discharge will be expanded to include an SSA Benefit Planning Query or other SSA documentation deemed acceptable by the Secretary. The regulations also amend the Perkins, Direct Loan, and FFEL Program regulations to improve the process for granting TPD discharges by eliminating the income monitoring period. Sections 674.61(b)(6)(i), 682.402(c)(6), and 685.213(b)(7)(i) will eliminate the existing reinstatement requirements, except for the provision which provides that a borrower's loan is reinstated if the borrower receives a new TEACH Grant or a new Direct Loan within 3 years of the date the TPD discharge was granted.

Burden Calculation: These final regulatory changes will require an update to the current total and permanent disability discharge application form. We do not believe that the language update will significantly change the amount of time currently assessed for the borrower to complete the Discharge Application (TPD-APP) application form from those which has already been approved. These final rules will eliminate the Post-Discharge Monitoring form (TPD-PDM) from the collection and will create a decrease in overall burden from the 1845-0065 collection. The forms update will be completed and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. The burden changes will be assessed to OMB Control Number 1845-0065, Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms.

682.402(e), 685.215(c) and 685.215(d)—False Certification Discharge.

Requirements: These final regulations streamline the FFEL and Direct Loan false certification regulations to provide one set of regulatory standards that will cover all false certification discharge claims. Sections 682.402(e) and 685.215(c)(5) state that a borrower qualifies for a false certification discharge if the school certified the borrower's eligibility for a FFEL or Direct Loan as a result of the crime of identity theft. Additionally, Section 685.215(c)(10) will provide for a new application to allow a State Attorney General or nonprofit legal services representative to submit a request to the Secretary for a group discharge under section (c).

Burden Calculation: These changes will require an update to the current false certification discharge application forms. We do not believe that the language update will significantly change the amount of time currently assessed for the borrower to complete the forms from those which has already been approved. The forms update will be completed and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. New forms to capture the requirements of the identity theft section and the group discharge request will be created and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. The burden changes will be assessed to OMB Control Number 1845-0058, Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins).

Requirements: Under Section 682.402(e)(6)(i), if a holder of a borrower's FFEL loan determines that a borrower may be eligible for a false certification discharge, the holder provides the borrower with the appropriate application and explanation of the process for obtaining a discharge. The borrower burden to complete the form is captured under the form collection 1845-0058. Under Section 682.402(e)(6)(iii), if a FFEL borrower submits an application for discharge that a FFEL program loan holder determines is incomplete, the loan holder will notify the borrower of that determination and allow the borrower 30 days to amend the application and provide supplemental information.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will require burden on the part of any FFEL lender. Of the 310 FFEL lenders, it is anticipated that 31 lenders will make such determinations of borrower discharge eligibility and that it will take 20 minutes to send an estimated 100 borrowers the correct form for completion, for a total of 33 burden hours (100 borrowers applications × 20 minutes per application (.33 hours) = 33 burden hours).

It is anticipated that 15 lenders will make a determination of 25 borrower's incomplete applications and that it will take 15 minutes to send borrowers the notice to amend their application, for a total of 6 burden hours (25 borrowers receiving lender notices × 15 minutes (.25 hours) = 6 burden hours).

It is anticipated that of the 25 borrowers who receive notice of an incomplete application, 20 will resubmit an amended application or provide additional documentation and it will take 30 minutes to make such amendments, for a total of 10 burden hours (20 borrowers amending initial filings × 30 minutes (.50 hours) = 10 hours under OMB Control Number 1845-0020.

Requirements: Section 682.402(e)(6)(vii) will require a guaranty agency to issue a decision that explains the reasons for any adverse determination on a false certification discharge application, describes the evidence on which the decision was made, and provides the borrower, upon request, copies of the evidence. The guaranty agency will consider any response or additional information from the borrower and notify the borrower as to whether the determination is changed.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will require burden on the part of any guaranty agency. It is anticipated that each of the 18 guaranty agencies will make such adverse determinations on 75 borrower discharge applications and that it will take 30 minutes to send borrowers the decision, for a total of 38 burden hours (75 borrowers receiving adverse determination notifications × 30 minutes (.50 hours) = 38 burden hours) under OMB Control Number 1845-0020.

Requirements: Section 682.402(e)(6)(ix) will provide the borrower with the option to request that the Secretary review the guaranty agency's decision.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will require burden on the part of any borrower. Of the 75 borrowers whose applications were denied by the guaranty agency, it is anticipated that 30 borrowers will request Secretarial review of the guaranty agencies decision and that it will take 30 minutes to send such a borrower request, for a total of 15 burden hours (30 borrowers × 30 minutes (.50 hours) = 15 burden hours) under OMB Control Number 1845-0020.

Federal Family Education Loan Program Regulations—OMB Control Number 1845-0020

Section 682.414 —Reports.

Requirements: In Section 682.414(b)(4), these final regulations require FFEL Program lenders to report detailed information related to a borrower's deferments, forbearances, repayment plans, delinquency, and contact information on any FFEL loan to the Department by an established deadline.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will require burden on the part of any FFEL lender. It is anticipated that 310 lenders will be required to expand their current reporting and that it will take 50 hours to update systems and to initially provide the additional data, for a total of 15,500 burden hours (310 institutions × 50 hours = 15,500 burden hours) under OMB Control Number 1845-0020.

Federal Family Education Loan Program Regulations—OMB Control Number 1845-0020

Section 685.219—Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Requirements: These final regulations provide new, modified, and restructured definitions in Section 685.219(b) that will expand the use of the form.

Burden Calculation: These changes will require an update to the current PSLF form. We do not believe that the language update will significantly change the amount of time currently assessed for the borrower to complete the form from those which has already been approved. The form will be completed and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations. The burden changes will be assessed to OMB Control Number 1845-0110, Application and Employment Certification for PSLF.

Requirements: These final regulations create a reconsideration process under Section 685.219(g) for borrowers whose applications for PSLF were denied or who disagree with the Department's determination of the number of qualifying payments or months of qualifying employment that have been earned by the borrower, which formalizes the current non-regulatory process.

Burden Calculation: The Department is currently in the clearance process for an electronic Public Service Loan Forgiveness Reconsideration Request, OMB Control Number 1845-0164. Public comment on the web-based format is currently being accepted through the normal information clearance process under docket number ED-2022-SCC-0039.

Section 685.300—Agreements between an eligible school and the Secretary for participation in the Direct Loan Program.

Requirements: These final regulations reinstate prior regulations that barred institutions, as a condition of participating in the Direct Loan program, from requiring borrowers to accept pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers as they relate to BD claims. Specifically, in Section 685.300(e), institutions will be prohibited from relying on a pre-dispute arbitration agreement, or any other pre-dispute agreement with a student who obtained or benefitted from a Direct Loan, in any aspect of a class action related to a BD claim, until the presiding court rules that the case cannot proceed as a class action. In Section 685.300(f), the final regulations require that certain provisions relating to notices and the terms of the pre-dispute arbitration agreements be included in any agreement with a student who receives a Direct Loan to attend the school or for whom a Direct PLUS Loan was obtained.

Burden Calculation: There will be burden on any school that meets the conditions for supplying students with the changes to any agreements. Based on the Academic Year 2020-2021 Direct Loan information available, there were 1,026,437 Unsubsidized Direct Loan recipients at 1,587 for-profit institutions. Assuming 66 percent of these students will continue to be enrolled at the time these regulations become effective, about 677,448 students will be required to receive the agreements or notices required in Sections 685.300(e) or (f). We anticipate that it will take 1,587 for-profit institutions .17 hours (10 minutes) per student to develop these agreements or notices, research who is required to receive them, and forward the information accordingly for 115,166 burden hours (677,448 students × .17 hours) under OMB Control Number 1845-0021.

Requirements: Under the final rules at Sections 685.300(g) and (h), institutions will be required to submit certain arbitral records and judicial records connected with any BD claim filed against the school to the Secretary by certain deadlines.

Burden Calculation: The Department believes that such a request will require burden on any school that meets the conditions for supplying the records to the Secretary. We continue to estimate that 5 percent of 1,587 for-profit institutions or an estimated 79 for-profit institutions will be required to submit documentation to the Secretary to comply with the final regulations. We anticipate that each of the 79 schools will have an average of four filings thus there will be an average of four submissions for each filing. Because these are copies of documents required to be submitted to other parties, we anticipate 5 burden hours to produce the copies and submit to the Secretary, for an increase in burden of 6,320 hours (79 institutions × 4 filings × 4 submissions/filing × 5 hours) under OMB Control Number 1845-0021.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations—OMB Control Number 1845-0021

Section 685.304—Counseling borrowers.

Requirements: These final regulations remove Sections 685.304(a)(6)(xiii) through (xv). The final regulations at Section 685.300 will state the conditions under which disclosures will be required and provide deadlines for such disclosures.

Burden Calculation: With the removal of the regulatory language in Sections 685.304(a)(6)(xiii) through (xv), the Department will remove the associated burden of 30,225 hours under OMB Control Number 1845-0021.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations- OMB Control Number 1845-0021

Section 685.402—Group process for borrower defense.

Requirements: In § 685.402(c), the Department may initiate a group process upon request from a third-party requestor, on the condition that the third-party requestor submit an application and provide other required information to the Department to adjudicate the claim.

In Section 685.402(c)(4) the Secretary will notify an institution of the third-party requestor's application requesting to form a BD group. The institution will have 90 days to respond to the Secretary regarding the third-party requestor's application. The Department believes that such a request will require burden on any school that wishes to respond to the Secretary.

If, under Section 865.402(c)(6), a third-party requestors' group request is denied, the third-party requestor will have 90 days from the initial decision to request the Secretary reconsider the formation of a group. The Department believes that such a request will require burden on any third-party requestor that wishes to respond to the Secretary.

Burden Calculation: A new form to capture the requirements for the third-party requestors for § 685.402(c) will be created and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations.

Further, the Department believes that with these new regulations there will be new burden on the institutions who are included in a proposed group claim. From 2015-2021 the Department received 11 group claims against institutions from 29 States Attorneys General regarding borrower defense claims. With the new regulations, the Department anticipates an increase group claim filings by third-party requestors. We estimate that 25 such third-party requestor group claims annually. Of that figure, we anticipate that 5 of the group claims will not meet the materially complete requirements.

For the 20 group claims that initially meet the materially complete requirement for which Secretary provides notice to the institutions, we believe that the 20 notified institutions will utilize the 90-day timeframe to respond to the group claim.

We estimate that the 20 institutions will require an average of 378 hours per notice to review and respond to the proposed group claim for a total of 7,560 burden hours (20 institutions × 378 hours/notice = 7,560) under OMB Control Number 1845-0021.

We anticipate that 5 of the estimated 25 third-party requestors filings for consideration of group claims will not be approved by the Secretary. Of the 5 denials, we anticipate that 4 of the third-party requestors will request reconsideration from the Secretary within the 90-day timeframe of the regulations. We estimate that the 4 third-party requestors will require an average of 378 hours per request for reconsideration for a total of 1,512 burden hours (4 third-party requestor × 378 hours/reconsideration request = 1,512) under OMB Control Number 1845-0021.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations— OMB Control Number 1845-0021

Section 685.405 -Institutional response.

Requirements: In § 685.405, the Department will continue to provide for an institutional response process to BD claims. Under the final regulations in § 685.405(a), the Department official will notify the institution of the BD claim and its basis for any group or individual BD claim. Under the final regulations in § 685.405(b), the institution will have 90 days to respond. Under the final regulations in § 685.405(c), with its response, the institution will be required to execute an affidavit confirming that the information contained in the response is true and correct under penalty of perjury on a form approved by the Secretary.

Burden Calculation: A new form to capture the requirements of § 685.405(c) will be created and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations.

Section 685.407—Reconsideration.

Requirements: § 685.407 sets forth the circumstances under which a borrower or a third-party requestor may seek reconsideration of a Department official's denial of their BD claim. § 685.407(a)(4) identifies the reconsideration process, which includes an application approved by the Secretary.

Burden Calculation: A new form to capture the requirements of § 685.407(a) will be created and made available for comment through a full public clearance package before being made available for use by the effective date of the regulations.

Consistent with the discussions above, the following chart describes the sections of the final regulations involving information collections, the information being collected and the collections that the Department will submit to OMB for approval and public comment under the PRA, and the estimated costs associated with the information collections. The monetized net cost of the increased burden for institutions, lenders, guaranty agencies and students, using wage data developed using Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. For individuals, we have used the median hourly wage for all occupations, $22.00 per hour according to BLS. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000 . For institutions, lenders, and guaranty agencies we have used the median hourly wage for Education Administrators, Postsecondary, $46.59 per hour according to BLS. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119033.htm.

The total burden hours and change in burden hours associated with each OMB Control number affected by the final regulations follows:

If you want to comment on the final information collection requirements, please send your comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the U.S. Department of Education. Send these comments by email to OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov or by fax to (202)395-6974. You may also send a copy of these comments to the Department contact named in the ADDRESSES section of the preamble.

We have prepared the Information Collection Request (ICR) for these collections. You may review the ICR which is available at www.reginfo.gov. Click on Information Collection Review. These collections are identified as collections 1845-0004, 1845-0020, 1845-0021, 1845-0022.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(2), the Regulatory Flexibility Act applies only to rules for which an agency publishes a general notice of proposed rulemaking.

Federalism

Executive Order 13132 requires us to ensure meaningful and timely input by State and local elected officials in the development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications. “Federalism implications” means substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The proposed regulations do not have federalism implications.

Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.

Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register . You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register , in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.

You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

List of Subjects

34 CFR Part 600

• Colleges and universities
• Foreign relations
• Grant programs—education
• Loan programs—education
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Selective Service System
• Student aid
• Vocational education

34 CFR Part 668

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Aliens
• Colleges and universities
• Consumer protection
• Grant programs—education
• Loan programs—education
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Selective Service System
• Student aid
• Vocational education

34 CFR Part 674

• Loan programs—education
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Student aid

34 CFR Part 682

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Colleges and universities
• Loan programs—education
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Student aid
• Vocational education

34 CFR Part 685

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Colleges and universities,

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary amends parts 600, 668, 674, 682, and 685 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 600—INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED

1. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002, 1003, 1088, 1091, 1094, 1099b, and 1099c, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 600.41 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) introductory text, (a)(1) introductory text, and (a)(1)(i) to read as follows:

PART 668—STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS

3. The authority citation for part 668 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001-1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092, 1094, 1099c, 1099c-1, and 1231a, unless otherwise noted.

Section 668.14 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092, 1094, 1099a-3, 1099c, and 1141.

Section 668.41 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1092, 1094, 1099c.

Section 668.91 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1094.

Section 668.171 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1094 and 1099c and section 4 of Pub. L. 94-452, 92 Stat. 1101-1109.

Section 668.172 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1094 and 1099c and section 4 of Pub. L. 94-452, 92 Stat. 1101-1109.

Section 668.175 also issued under 20 U.S.C. 1094 and 1099c.

4. Section 668.41 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(2) introductory text and removing paragraph (h).

The revision reads as follows:

5. Subpart F is revised to read as follows:

Subpart F—Misrepresentation

6. Section 668.81 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(5)(i) to read as follows:

7. Section 668.87 is removed and reserved.

8. Section 668.89 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(3)(iii) to read as follows:

9. Section 668.91 is amended by:

a. Removing paragraph (a)(2)(ii);

b. Redesignating paragraph (a)(2)(i) as (a)(2); and

c. Removing paragraph (c)(2)(x).

10. Section 668.100 is added to subpart G to read as follows:

11. Section 668.125 is added to read as follows:

12. Subpart R is added to read as follows:

Subpart R—Aggressive and Deceptive Recruitment Tactics or Conduct

PART 674—FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM

13. The authority citation for part 674 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087aa—1087hh; Pub. L. 111-256, 124 Stat. 2643; unless otherwise noted.

14. Section 674.30 is added to read as follows:

15. Section 674.33 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraph (g)(1);

b. In paragraph (g)(2)(iv) removing the words “credit bureaus” and adding in their place the words “consumer reporting agencies”;

c. Revising paragraphs (g)(3) and (4);

d. In paragraph (g)(6)(i) introductory text, removing the words “In order to” and adding in their place the word “To”;

e. In paragraph (g)(8)(i), removing the number “120” and adding in its place the number “180”;

f. Revising paragraphs (g)(8)(v) and (vii); and

g. Adding paragraph (g)(9).

The revisions and addition read as follows:

16. Section 674.61 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraphs (b)(2) through (6);

b. Removing paragraph (b)(7);

c. Redesignating paragraph (b)(8) as paragraph (b)(7);

d. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (b)(7); and

e. Revising paragraphs (d) and (e).

The revisions read as follows:

17. Section 674.65 is added to read as follows:

PART 682—FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN (FFEL) PROGRAM

18. The authority citation for part 682 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1071-1087-4, unless otherwise noted.

19. Section 682.402 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) through (vii) and (c)(3) through (6);

b. Removing paragraph (c)(7);

c. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(8) through (11) as paragraphs (c)(7) through (10), respectively;

d. Revising newly redesignated paragraphs (c)(7), (9), and (10);

e. Revising paragraphs (d)(1) through (3);

f. In paragraph (d)(6)(ii)(B) introductory text, removing the number “120” and adding in its place the number “180”;

g. In paragraph (d)(6)(ii)(B)( 2), removing the number “120” and adding in its place the number “180”;

h. In paragraph (d)(6)(ii)(H), removing the number “60” and adding in its place the number “90”;

i. In paragraph (d)(7)(ii), removing the number “60” and adding in its place the number “90”;

j. Revising paragraph (d)(8);

k. Adding paragraph (d)(9);

l. Revising paragraph (e)(1);

m. In paragraph (e)(2)(v) removing the citation “(e)(1)(ii)” and adding in its place the citation “(e)(1)(iii)”;

n. Revising paragraph (e)(3);

o. Removing paragraph (e)(13);

p. Redesignating paragraphs (e)(6) through (12) as (e)(7) through (13), respectively;

q. Adding a new paragraph (e)(6);

r. Revising redesignated paragraphs (e)(7) through (13) and paragraphs (e)(14) and (15); and

s. Adding paragraph (e)(16).

The revisions and additions read as follows:

20. Section 682.414 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:

21. Section 682.424 is added to subpart D to read as follows:

PART 685—WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM

22. The authority citation for part 685 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087a, et seq., unless otherwise noted.

23. Section 685.103 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:

24. Section 685.109 is added to subpart A to read as follows:

25. Section 685.202 is amended by:

a. Removing paragraphs (b)(2), (4), and (5);

b. Redesignating paragraph (b)(3) as paragraph (b)(2) and revising it.

The revision reads as follows:

26. Section 685.205 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(6) to read as follows:

27. Section 685.206 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:

28. Section 685.208 is amended by removing paragraph (l)(5).

29. Section 685.209 is amended by:

a. Removing paragraph (a)(2)(iv);

b. Redesignating paragraphs (a)(2)(v) and (vi) as paragraphs (a)(2)(iv) and (v), respectively.

c. In paragraph (b)(1)(vii), removing the parenthetical phrase “(including amount capitalized)”;

d. Removing and reserving paragraph (b)(3)(iv);

e. Removing paragraph (c)(2)(iv);

f. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(2)(v) and (vi) as paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) and (v), respectively.

g. In paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(B), removing the words “paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) and”, and adding in their place “paragraph”.

30. Section 685.212 is amended by adding paragraph (k)(4) to read as follows:

31. Section 685.213 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraphs (b)(2) through (7);

b. Removing paragraph (b)(8); and

c. Revising paragraphs (d) and (e).

The revisions read as follows:

32. Section 685.214 is amended by:

a. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the citation “paragraph (c)” and adding, in its place, the citation “paragraph (d)”.

b. Revising paragraph (a)(2);

c. Removing paragraph (g);

d. Redesignating paragraphs (c) through (f) as paragraphs (d) through (g), respectively;

e. Adding a new paragraph (c);

f. Revising redesignated paragraphs (d) through (g); and

f. Adding a new paragraph (h).

The revisions and additions read as follows:

33. Section 685.215 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraph (a)(1);

b. Adding paragraph (a)(3);

c. Revising paragraphs (c) introductory text and (c)(1) through (5);

d. Redesignating paragraphs (c)(6) through (8) as paragraphs (c)(7) through (9), respectively;

e. Adding a new paragraph (c)(6);

f. Adding paragraph (c)(10);

g. Revising paragraph (d); and

h. Removing paragraphs (e) and (f).

The revisions and additions read as follows:

34. Section 685.219 is revised to read as follows:

33. Section 685.300 is amended by:

a. Revising paragraphs (b)(7) and (10);

b. Redesignating paragraphs (b)(11) and (12) as paragraphs (b)(12) and (13), respectively;

c. Adding new paragraph (b)(11);

d. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (b)(13); and

e. Adding paragraphs (d) through (i).

The revisions and additions read as follows:

35. Section 685.304 is amended:

a. In paragraph (a)(6)(xi), by adding “and” after “records;”;

b. In paragraph (a)(6)(xii), by removing the semicolon after “loan” and adding a period in its place; and

c. Removing paragraphs (a)(6)(xiii) through (xv).

36. Section 685.308 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows:

37. Subpart D is added to read as follows:

Subpart D—Borrower Defense to Repayment