WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education has announced the start of a formal rulemaking process to implement the higher education provisions of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), a sweeping legislative package aimed at reshaping federal student aid and workforce education policy.
As part of this effort, the Department will hold a virtual public hearing on August 7 to gather input on regulatory changes related to federal student loans and the Pell Grant program. The hearing marks the first step in a broader initiative to translate OBBB’s mandates into actionable federal regulations.
Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron emphasized the Administration’s urgency in carrying out the law. “The Department is taking swift action to implement President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Bergeron said. “Now it is time for us to deliver for the American people.”
Key areas of focus include simplifying student loan repayment, revising income-based repayment plans, capping loan limits for part-time students, and reversing several policies from the previous administration, such as borrower defense to repayment and closed school discharge regulations.
To oversee the process, the Department will convene two rulemaking committees:
- The RISE Committee (Reimagining and Improving Student Education), which will address student loan policy and hold five-day sessions in September and November.
- The AHEAD Committee (Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell), which will focus on new Workforce Pell initiatives and institutional accountability. Its sessions are scheduled for December and January.
The rulemaking process is required by Section 492 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which mandates public consultation and negotiation before regulations affecting Title IV federal student aid programs are finalized.
Earlier this month, the Office of Federal Student Aid issued preliminary guidance on several provisions of the new law, including updates to repayment plans and loan limits. Additional guidance is expected throughout the year.
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