A federal judge denied the Education Department’s request for an 18-month delay in deciding borrower-defense claims covered by the Sweet v. McMahon settlement, preserving a Jan. 28 deadline for automatic relief for the final group of borrowers tied to 151 institutions. Judge William Alsup declined an extension for borrowers who attended schools the department identified as showing strong indications of substantial misconduct, while granting other claimants until April 15. The ruling puts renewed pressure on the Education Department to process outstanding claims or face automatic debt relief for affected borrowers. The settlement stems from a class-action suit accusing the agency of delaying borrower-defense decisions and requires timely adjudication or mass automatic forgiveness in defined circumstances. Institutions named in the department’s list and their legal counsel may face renewed liability and reputational fallout if the department grants relief; meanwhile, advocacy groups and affected borrowers will be attentive to the department’s next moves and any further court enforcement.