Let’s Pause Payments - Student Debt Advocates and Borrowers Affected by July 1st Changes Convene to Discuss the Urgent Need to Pause Student Loan Payments Immediately

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2026

Contact:

Natalia Abrams, SDCC natalia@studentdebtcrisis.org

Braxton Brewington, Debt Collective braxton@debtcollective.org

On Thursday, June 25th at 7:00PM ET / 4:00PM PT, the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) and Debt Collective are hosting the “Let’s Pause Payments” informational and advocacy-based virtual event, an opportunity uniting student loan borrowers and leaders to advocate for an immediate pause on all student loan payments. This event will feature a roundtable of student loan borrowers to share how federal changes coming on July 1st will impact them, and a special presentation from Julia Barnard, a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Ombudsperson. Following this, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in advocacy for an immediate pause on payments by taking direct action.

The event will conclude with practical guidance and resources for borrowers and opportunities to engage in borrower advocacy efforts. As the SAVE Plan comes to an end and new limits on federal student loan eligibility begin, this event seeks to share real stories from borrowers and demonstrate the necessity of affordable repayment plans for all Americans.

“Student loan borrowers are navigating an unrelenting slate of changes to the federal loan system, and the continuous failure of the Department of Education to safeguard borrowers’ financial wellbeing adds exponentially more stress to Americans already facing an affordability crisis. The student debt crisis is more severe than ever, and we will not stop until President Trump implements an immediate pause on payment and interest to give borrowers what they deserve: relief,” said Sabrina Ashley Cereceres, Executive Director at Student Debt Crisis Center.

“For over a decade, debtors, advocacy groups, elected officials, and law enforcement agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have been sounding the alarm about the out-of-control student loan system,” said Julia Barnard, the Higher Education Policy Director at the Debt Collective. “With millions of federal student loans falling into default, millions of debtors waiting on consequential court decisions that will determine their obligations, and millions more struggling to pay for basic expenses like healthcare and food, it’s time for President Trump to pause payments."

What: Let’s Pause Payments – a virtual discussion featuring a borrower roundtable, information from student loan advocates, and direct action to pause all student payments

When: Thursday, June 25th at 7:00PM ET / 4:00PM PT

Where: Online – via Zoom (Over 900 registrations, make sure to reserve your spot today.)

Who:

Guest Speakers (subject to change)

• Sabrina Ashley Cereceres, Executive Director, SDCC

• Julia Barnard, Higher Education Policy Director, Debt Collective, and Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Ombudsperson

• Natalia Abrams, President, SDCC

• Ryan Coryea, Policy & Communications Associate, SDCC

• Shanna Hayes, Student Loan Borrower

• Sarah Bundy, Student Loan Borrower

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Natalia Abrams at natalia@studentdebtcrisis.org.

You can register for the event here.

Learn more about our speakers and co-hosts below.

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Speaker and Organization Information

Shanna Hayes (Washington DC) — Shanna Hayes is a special education teacher and student loan borrower navigating a challenging financial landscape shaped by her journey as a first-generation college student. With over $150K in student loan debt accrued over 13 years, she recently consolidated her loans and applied for the SAVE program, only to face delays due to litigation affecting her servicer, MOHELA. Compounding her difficulties, Shanna sustained serious injuries in a car accident 1.5 years ago, which left her unable to work for over four months, and her family is just now recovering financially. Recently, she was informed that her monthly payment is set to increase nearly $1,000, which her family is unable to afford. Rising cost of living, ongoing changes in the student loan repayment system like the end of the SAVE plan and restrictions on income-driven repayment plans, and overall uncertainty surrounding financial obligations has left Shanna’s future precarious, as she and her family struggle to balance essential expenses.

Sarah Bundy (Brockport, New York) — Sarah is over 50, in SAVE, had a loan in default at one point, and wage garnishment put her income under the federal poverty level. She is unable to save for retirement because of student debt stating, “I have about $60,000 in student loans from SUNY Brockport from 1996. I have been in and out of default and garnishment for almost 30 years. Right now, I am in SAVE forbearance with a $0 monthly amount due. I got the letter from my servicer EdFinancial about a month ago saying I HAD to change to a different plan, but I'm not going anywhere until I have to.” If forced into the new “RAP” plan, Sarah would owe $167/month for the next 30 years, and “would have to work and earn enough to pay that until I’m 86 years old.”

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ABOUT Student Debt Crisis Center

Student Debt Crisis Center is a national advocacy organization with nearly 2,000,000 supporters calling for fundamental reforms to student loan policies and an end to the student debt crisis. Learn more here.

ABOUT Debt Collective

Debt Collective is the nation’s first union of debtors fighting to cancel debts and defend millions of households.