A federal judge vacated the rule underpinning the Biden administration’s SAVE income‑driven repayment plan, delivering legal closure for millions of borrowers and ending the plan’s generous terms, court records show. The department’s rule was first challenged by Republican state attorneys general and subsequently vacated after appeals court action, leaving borrowers and servicers uncertain about next steps. Separately, a federal watchdog reported the Education Department reduced oversight of loan servicers, a move critics say complicates borrower protections as repayment policy shifts. The Government Accountability Office and inspector general reviews have highlighted gaps in monitoring that could affect repayment transitions if SAVE’s features are undone. Borrowers, higher‑education financial‑aid offices and university policy teams will need updated guidance from ED and federal courts to navigate repayment calculations and communications. Legal experts say institutions should prepare for administrative and communications burdens as servicers and campuses help former SAVE enrollees understand their options.