The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that American taxpayers should no longer pay for other people’s student loans.

But the changes, according to NPR, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they’ll cap loans for grad students.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Guests:
Ayelet Sheffey, senior education reporter, Business Insider 
Betsy Mayotte, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors
Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut 

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-begin-federal-student-loan-collections-other-actions-help-borrowers-get-back-repayment">American taxpayers</a>&nbsp;should no longer pay for other people&rsquo;s student loans.
But the changes, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/18/nx-s1-5856432/big-changes-coming-to-student-loans-on-july-1">NPR</a>, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they&rsquo;ll cap loans for grad students.
Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/ayelet-sheffey">Ayelet Sheffey</a>, senior education reporter, Business Insider&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://freestudentloanadvice.org/about_us/our-staff/">Betsy Mayotte</a>, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/dob/student-loan-ombudsperson/student-loan-ombudsperson-office">Michelle Jarvis-Lettman</a>, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

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