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Blogs

Mar 31, 2026

Access Denied: New Report Reveals 40% of Americans Are Locked Out of the Private Student Loan Market

Reforms passed last year will leave hundreds of thousands of students needing private student loans, but many will not be able to get them. New research finds that underwriting requirements will block 40 percent of Americans from private student loans. The promise that private loans will fill gaps isn’t just overstated: it’s empty.

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Press Releases

Mar 31, 2026

New Study Warns That 40% of Americans—Including Nearly Two-Thirds of Pell Grant Recipients—Cannot Qualify for a Traditional Private Student Loan

A study published by Protect Borrowers and The Century Foundation warns that more than 40% of U.S. college students—including nearly two thirds of Pell Grant recipients—would not qualify for a traditional private student loan.

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Reports

Mar 31, 2026

Access Denied: How 40% of Americans Are Locked Out of the Private Student Loan Market

Protect Borrowers and The Century Foundation released a startling joint report revealing that over 40 percent of Americans would likely be denied access to loans from the vast majority of traditional private and state-affiliated lenders.

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Press Releases

Mar 26, 2026

Little Hoover Commission Convenes Historic Hearing on Institutional Debt Crisis Across California

Experts testified before the Little Hoover Commission’s hearing entitled, “Student Debt to California Colleges and Universities.” The historic hearing marks the first time the Commission is investigating the growth of institutional debt and exploring potential policy solutions to better protect students across California.

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Testimony & Remarks

Mar 26, 2026

Witness Testimonies Before the Little Hoover Commission’s Public Hearing on Institutional Debt in California

Written witness testimonies of Aissa Canchola Bañez, Samantha Seng, Professor Dalié Jiménez, and Associate Professor Charlie Eaton before the Little Hoover Commission’s first ever public hearing on institutional debt in California.

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Press Releases

Mar 23, 2026

Hearing Advisory: Little Hoover Commission to Hold First Ever Hearing on Institutional Debt Crisis Across California, Experts to Testify

Advisory for Thursday, March 26, 2026 SACRAMENTO, CA — On Thursday at 9:30 AM PT, students, borrower advocates, and academic experts will provide testimony before the Little Hoover Commission’s hearing entitled, “Student Institutional Debt in California.” The historic hearing marks the first time the independent citizens-legislative commission is investigating the growth of institutional debt—debt owed […]

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Press Releases

Mar 19, 2026

ED Plan to Unlawfully Transfer Student Loan System, Starting with Default Collections, to Treasury is Irresponsible, Reckless, and Bad News for Borrowers

This move will cause even more confusion about a student loan system that has been fraught with unprecedented disruptions and instability.

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Blogs

Mar 19, 2026

‘I Broke It, YOU Buy It’: On Linda McMahon’s Reported Plan to Move Student Loan Collections From ED to Treasury

22 questions for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

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Reports

Mar 17, 2026

Interest Nation: The State of America’s Credit Card Debt Crisis

This joint report by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers reveals how President Trump’s affordability crisis is pushing millions of American families further into credit card debt. The report analyzes consumer credit panel data which shows that over 40 percent of U.S. adults (and roughly half of all active credit card holders) cannot afford to pay off their credit card bills each month, exposing them to sky-high interest rates.

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Press Releases

Mar 17, 2026

NEW ANALYSIS: More Than Half of Credit Cardholders Are Carrying Debt Month-to-Month at Crushing Interest Rates As Trump’s Affordability Crisis Worsens

A report from The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers reveals that 111 million Americans are getting crushed by credit card bills with sky-high interest rates.

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Press Releases

Mar 13, 2026

Amidst Unprecedented Disruptions and Chaos Within Student Loan System, Government Watchdog Report Sheds Light on How Mass Layoffs Put Borrowers At Greater Risk of Servicer Errors

GAO report shows ED layoffs resulted in scaled back oversight of student loan servicers, increasing risks of servicing errors, less servicer accountability.

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Press Releases

Mar 12, 2026

Following Reports of “Bilt Card 2.0” Meltdown, Advocates Call on the Trump CFPB to Protect Borrowers, Warn Congress of Risks to Renters

Bilt’s embrace of agentic AI to provide customer service highlights emerging risks, challenges for enforcement officials as borrowers allege doom-loops, detours, and dead-ends.

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Letters & Memos

Mar 12, 2026

Bilt 2.0 Supervision Letter and Customer Complaint Catalog

Protect Borrowers sent an urgent letter to the CFPB warning of the new “Bilt 2.0” credit card risks and the need for risk-based supervision. We also compiled a catalog of public reviews of Bilt 2.0 showcasing issues with missed rent and outrage with customer service.

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Testimony & Remarks

Mar 11, 2026

Testimony of Chris Hicks Before the MN House Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

See here to read Chris Hick’s March 11, 2026, testimony.

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Press Releases

Mar 9, 2026

Right-Wing AGs Win Decision Denying Affordable Student Loan Bills to Millions As Costs Skyrocket

In shocking reversal, Eighth Circuit orders lower court to bless back-room settlement killing SAVE for all.

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Reports

Mar 5, 2026

Understanding Black Students’ Experiences and Outcomes at For-Profit Colleges to Inform State Oversight

Co-authored with TICAS, this report offers a snapshot of Black student enrollment and outcomes at for-profit colleges paired with the perspectives of Black alumni of for-profit undergraduate and graduate programs.

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Blogs

Mar 5, 2026

The Mask Is Slipping: New Poll Shows Debt Is the Only Thing Holding Trump’s Economy Together

A pair of polls—one old, one new—bring America’s affordability crisis into sharper focus.

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Testimony & Remarks

Mar 4, 2026

Testimony of Winston Berkman-Breen Before the NY State Senate Codes and Consumer Protection Committees

See here to read Winston Berkman-Breen’s March 4, 2026, testimony.

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Polling

Mar 4, 2026

Poll: Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Prioritize Lower Credit Card Interest Rates Over Perks and Easy Approval

Groundwork Collaborative and Protect Borrowers released a Data for Progress poll showing strong, bipartisan support for efforts to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. After hearing common bank lobby talking points, nearly two-thirds of voters across party lines still favor a 10% interest rate cap.

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Press Releases

Mar 4, 2026

New Poll: Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Prioritize Lower Credit Card Interest Rates Over Perks and Easy Approval

Even if Trump Did Manage to Deliver on a Credit Card Interest Rate Cap, 80% of Voters Say He Would Need to Do More to Show He’s Serious About Lowering Costs March 4, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as Trump’s policies continue to increase costs, Groundwork Collaborative and Protect Borrowers released a new Data […]

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Social Security

Access Denied: New Report Reveals 40% of Americans Are Locked Out of the Private Student Loan Market

New Study Warns That 40% of Americans—Including Nearly Two-Thirds of Pell Grant Recipients—Cannot Qualify for a Traditional Private Student Loan

Access Denied: How 40% of Americans Are Locked Out of the Private Student Loan Market

Little Hoover Commission Convenes Historic Hearing on Institutional Debt Crisis Across California

Witness Testimonies Before the Little Hoover Commission’s Public Hearing on Institutional Debt in California

Hearing Advisory: Little Hoover Commission to Hold First Ever Hearing on Institutional Debt Crisis Across California, Experts to Testify

ED Plan to Unlawfully Transfer Student Loan System, Starting with Default Collections, to Treasury is Irresponsible, Reckless, and Bad News for Borrowers

‘I Broke It, YOU Buy It’: On Linda McMahon’s Reported Plan to Move Student Loan Collections From ED to Treasury

Interest Nation: The State of America’s Credit Card Debt Crisis

NEW ANALYSIS: More Than Half of Credit Cardholders Are Carrying Debt Month-to-Month at Crushing Interest Rates As Trump’s Affordability Crisis Worsens

Amidst Unprecedented Disruptions and Chaos Within Student Loan System, Government Watchdog Report Sheds Light on How Mass Layoffs Put Borrowers At Greater Risk of Servicer Errors

Following Reports of “Bilt Card 2.0” Meltdown, Advocates Call on the Trump CFPB to Protect Borrowers, Warn Congress of Risks to Renters

Bilt 2.0 Supervision Letter and Customer Complaint Catalog

Testimony of Chris Hicks Before the MN House Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Right-Wing AGs Win Decision Denying Affordable Student Loan Bills to Millions As Costs Skyrocket

Understanding Black Students’ Experiences and Outcomes at For-Profit Colleges to Inform State Oversight

The Mask Is Slipping: New Poll Shows Debt Is the Only Thing Holding Trump’s Economy Together

Testimony of Winston Berkman-Breen Before the NY State Senate Codes and Consumer Protection Committees

Poll: Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Prioritize Lower Credit Card Interest Rates Over Perks and Easy Approval

New Poll: Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Prioritize Lower Credit Card Interest Rates Over Perks and Easy Approval

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