America’s student loan crisis is increasingly impacting those in positions of power, with a new analysis revealing that 59 members of the 119th U.S. Congress collectively owe between $3.4 million and $8.3 million in student loan debt. This figure represents a significant increase from 2020, when the maximum amount owed by lawmakers was reported at $5.8 million, according to OpenSecrets.
The rising debt burden on Capitol Hill mirrors the struggles of approximately 43 million Americans who currently hold student loans, with over a million in default and nearly 10% delinquent. The situation is particularly acute as lawmakers grapple with finding solutions to a crisis that affects millions of their constituents.
The financial disclosures, covering 2024, report liabilities in ranges, making a precise calculation impossible. However, the data highlights a growing trend: a larger proportion of lawmakers are entering office with substantial student loan debt. This is potentially linked to a younger Congress and an increasing number of legislators holding degrees in fields requiring expensive education, such as law.
First-term Republican Del. Kimberly King-Hinds of the Northern Mariana Islands reported the highest individual debt, ranging between $300,003 and $750,000, with a current balance of $220,000. She emphasized the need for accountability not just from borrowers, but also from institutions driving up the cost of education, stating that student loans often serve as a crucial pathway to professional opportunities, particularly in smaller communities.
Even seasoned members of Congress are not immune. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reported owing between $15,001 and $50,000, while Republican Rep. David Schweikert, chair of the Joint Economic Committee, carries between $15,001 and $50,000 in debt incurred in 2004 for graduate school. Schweikert stated he is personally fulfilling his financial obligations without seeking taxpayer assistance.
The issue is complicated by partisan divides. While Republicans traditionally advocate for personal responsibility in debt repayment, many acknowledge the systemic problems within the student loan system. Schweikert pointed to the need for universities to share responsibility, referencing calls from his colleague Virginia Foxx for institutions to prioritize graduation rates, as graduation is strongly correlated with successful loan repayment.
Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who owes between $15,001 and $50,000, believes the federal government’s role in student lending should be reduced, advocating for universities to be financially responsible for loans that go into default after graduation. “You want to get history professors trained? Fine. But you’re on the hook for making sure that loan gets paid back,” Roy said, questioning the value of accumulating substantial debt for degrees with limited earning potential.
Recent legislative changes, enacted through a tax and spending bill in 2024, have begun to reshape the federal student loan landscape. These changes include requirements for lenders to consider the median earnings of program graduates – impacting roughly 1.8% of current students – caps on Parent PLUS loans and graduate borrowing, and a consolidation of multiple income-based repayment plans into a single Repayment Assistance Plan.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projects that these changes will reduce the government’s losses on its student loan portfolio to 4 cents per dollar lent in 2026, down from 18 cents in 2025. However, experts remain skeptical that these measures are sufficient to address the core issues.
Rep. Nick Begich, a first-term Republican owing between $25,001 and $65,000, argues for a reduction in student loan interest rates, highlighting that the current system generates revenue for the federal government at the expense of borrowers. He contends that the government is effectively “taxing students.”
Democrats have criticized the Trump administration and Republicans for policies they believe make education less accessible, and affordable. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who owes between $15,001 and $50,000, advocates for broader student debt relief measures, including tuition-free public colleges and universities.
Despite ongoing debate and legislative efforts, some observers, like Alan Collinge, founder of Student Loan Justice, believe the system is beyond repair. He predicts a collapse as more borrowers default and refuse to repay their loans, arguing that the scale of the debt is simply insurmountable for many Americans. “There’s no bringing back this lending system,” Collinge stated. “People are not going to magically, all of a sudden, start repaying their loans. People are done.”
