The Department of Education announced it will resume aggressive collections by beginning to garnish wages of borrowers in default, sending initial notices to roughly 1,000 borrowers the week of Jan. 7, 2026 and scaling up thereafter. Millions of borrowers remain in default after pandemic-era pauses ended; the department says it will provide notice and opportunity to repay before levies commence. Borrower advocates called the move “cruel, unnecessary and irresponsible,” arguing the department has not adequately expanded affordable repayment pathways. The restart of collections follows other administration steps to reclaim defaulted debt, including offsetting tax refunds and federal payments. Colleges and student‑affordability programs should prepare for renewed public scrutiny, potential court challenges, and increased demand for financial counseling and default‑prevention services on campus.