The Trump administration is facing backlash as it prepares to begin garnishing the wages of more than 5 million Americans in default on their student loans, despite President Trump previously forgiving nearly $800 billion in PPP loans for small business owners.
Starting May 5, the Department of Education will begin involuntarily collecting student loan payments through the Treasury Department's offset program. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon claimed the move will liberate American taxpayers from having to "serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies," per AP News.
Social media users with and without students loans, however, condemned the government for implementing this policy amid a housing and homelessness crisis while more than half of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck.
"Love how the Department of Education was 'abolished' except for when we need it to ruin people's lives," X user @pbgomez_ lamented.
Love how the Department of Education was 'abolished' except for when we need it to ruin people's lives. https://t.co/vVClqnb0Pm
— P.B. Gomez (@pbgomez_) April 21, 2025
"Ruining the economy and taking money from the people who can least afford it. What could go wrong," X user @JPHilllllll added.
"5.3 million households could have their wages garnished. If they're in default, they already can't afford the bills. If the ED dept goes through with this, it will destroy people's lives," another warned.
5.3 million households could have their wages garnished.
— Drop seeds not bombs (@helenaddy) April 21, 2025
If they're in default, they already can't afford the bills.
If the ED dept goes through with this, it will destroy people's lives. https://t.co/mhzluLCa3G
https://t.co/K7GrTbFqWb pic.twitter.com/exd4QDV8LG
— keyishacolecat (@aspartamebrain) April 22, 2025
"Garnishing wages for student loans that people can barely pay during a housing crisis, supply chain issues where prices are rising and shit is already tight, cost of living is outta control.....the mental toll this will take on people is........" X user @drewcorleone86 shared.
"So they're coming for my kid's job as a social worker. Which she needed a college degree. Which said job pays shit. Which means she can't afford to pay her student loans. She's doing a job that literally rehomes unwanted kids and this is how our government thanks her," @ShellyBeck20 wrote.
So they’re coming for my kid’s job as a social worker. Which she needed a college degree. Which said job pays shit. Which means she can’t afford to pay her student loans. She’s doing a job that literally rehomes unwanted kids and this is how our government thanks her. https://t.co/5R5FFRtjWk
— #DollyPartonforPOTUS (@ShellyBeck20) April 22, 2025
Many social media users pointed out Trump and his administration's hypocrisy after they've forgiven billions in loans for small businesses, many of which were received by politicians, and given tax cuts to the rich.
"Tax cuts & money handouts to the rich, debt collection for the rest of us," X user @hec4az wrote.
Tax cuts & money handouts to the rich, debt collection for the rest of us https://t.co/M5W1ek9JJg
— Héctor Jaramillo (@hec4az) April 22, 2025
One social media user shared 10 Republican politicians who benefited from PPP loan forgiveness while blocking student debt relief. The list includes Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie, who was forgiven for nearly $5 million.
"the right thinks you're a parasite if you can't afford to pay off your student loans during a housing and cost of living crisis, but they're totally fine with loan forgiveness when it applies to them," the X user stated.
the right thinks you’re a parasite if you can’t afford to pay off your student loans during a housing and cost of living crisis, but they’re totally fine with loan forgiveness when it applies to them https://t.co/Cv95iN1N8k pic.twitter.com/XgrXv0VpK6
— matthew (@mathewphetamine) April 22, 2025
The upcoming policy shift is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to squeeze student loan borrowers.
Last month, the president signed an executive order to limit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which allows public employees to be eligible for loan forgiveness after 10 years of service, Forbes reported. The administration is also moving toward selling federal loans to private lenders, which have previously kept millions of borrowers in debt.
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