A survey from the Institute for College Access and Success found roughly one in five federal student-loan borrowers is currently delinquent or in default, raising alarms about a possible "default cliff" as post‑pause repayment resumes. TICAS highlighted that many delinquent borrowers risk cascading into default, with severe financial penalties and long-term damage to credit, housing and retirement security. TICAS’s Michele Zampini noted that the Department of Education has flagged similar risks, and advocates say the findings increase urgency for borrower relief measures and stronger institutional accountability to prevent mass defaults. The nonprofit called for targeted interventions for vulnerable cohorts and better repayment counseling. Borrower advocates and policymakers are watching closely as repayment obligations intensify: defaults at scale could increase pressure on campuses, states, and the federal government to design relief or mitigation strategies that affect both policy and institutional practice.