Letter to Congress in Support of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Re: Preserving the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

We, the undersigned organizations, write to highlight the success and importance of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and urge its preservation. Congress recognized the importance of recruiting and retaining highly-qualified public service professionals when it enacted PSLF with bipartisan support during the George W. Bush Administration. PSLF is a vital tool that strengthens our communities, fills critical workforce shortages, and ensures that public service remains an accessible and attainable career path. Accordingly, we strongly oppose actions to restrict eligibility or cut resources to PSLF given the strength, efficiency and importance of the program.

PSLF is a critical investment in our nation’s public service workforce. It is a contract between public service professionals and the federal government: if you work in public service for 10 years and make 120 loan repayments, the remaining debt is forgiven. By ensuring student loan relief for those who work in public service for 10 years, PSLF strengthens America’s schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and military. Without PSLF, many public servants— especially those in rural and underserved areas—would be forced to leave public service for the private sector, where salaries are often higher.

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