A federal judge denied the Department of Education’s request for an 18‑month extension to decide the final tranche of borrower-defense claims tied to a landmark 2022 settlement, preserving automatic-relief deadlines for a subset of borrowers. Judge William Alsup refused to extend the deadline for borrowers who attended one of 151 institutions the department flagged for substantial misconduct, though he granted a limited extension for other claimants. The decision keeps pressure on the Education Department to process claims quickly and could accelerate debt relief for affected borrowers. The ruling underscores legal and administrative constraints on the department as it manages legacy claims and settlement obligations while facing staffing and policy changes.