The American Federation of Teachers says the Department of Education has a backlog of more than 800,000 income-driven repayment (IDR) applications, and that loan forgiveness processing remains painfully slow. The union cited court filings and status reports, arguing that the department’s staffing cuts and operational failures are denying borrowers timely relief and violating settlements reached earlier this year. AFT president Randi Weingarten has signaled continued litigation and political pressure unless the department accelerates processing and delivers promised forgiveness outcomes. Colleges, financial-aid offices and alumni relations teams should expect persistent borrower frustration, potential reputational fallout, and calls for congressional oversight as students await crediting and discharge decisions.