Trump administration looks to shift student-loan responsibilities to Treasury Department

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found Trump administration looks to shift student-loan responsibilities to Treasury DepartmentThe move comes as officials work to severely diminish the Education Department, which oversees the $1.7 trillion student-loan portfolioPublished: March 19, 2026 at 5:22 p.m. ETShareResizeListen(6 min)The Education Department, led by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon (left), has entered into an agreement with the Treasury Department, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (right), to help manage the student-loan program. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesThe Trump administration is moving to shift responsibility for much of the federal student-loan program from the Education Department to the Treasury Department, officials announced Thursday. The two agencies are entering into a partnership that will allow Treasury to become more involved in collecting on federal student loans. The agreement comes following more than a year of speculation over the fate of the $1.7 trillion student-loan program under an administration that has said it wants to dismantle the Education Department. About the Author Jillian BermanJillian Berman is assistant managing editor, news enterprise, at MarketWatch, where she covers student loans and consumer debt. Her book on the student debt crisis, Sunk Cost, will be published in April 2025. You can follow her on Twitter @JillianBerman.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.