When will we get the next PSLF repo backlog report?

Borrowers waiting for updates on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) repo backlog will have to wait a little longer. The ongoing federal government shutdown has halted the release of new status reports that track backlogs, slowing visibility into how quickly applications are being processed (if they are being processed at all).

Under an agreement in a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) against the U.S. Department of Education, the department must file a lawsuit Monthly status reports With the court documenting progress on both income-based repayment (IDR) and PSLF buyback processing. These reports provide one of the only public windows into how much debt has accumulated and how quickly it is shrinking — or growing, as many borrowers now fear.

Last available file, served before shutdown, report IDR order backlog stands at 1,076,266 As of August 2025 and a PSLF repurchase option backlog of 74,510 calls. Processing will likely not occur during the shutdown period, making progress even more slow.

Once the lockdown is over, the Department of Education will be asked to file Six additional monthly reportsstarting 30 days after the government reopens. Until then, the next update remains pending.

What is a PSLF repurchase option?

The PSLF buyback program allows eligible public service workers to “buy back” months of time that should have counted toward forgiveness due to periods of time spent in certain forbearance or deferral periods that were later deemed eligible.

Currently, many borrowers are trying to calculate their time in saving period. However, the program is designed to be the exception rather than the rule. With thousands of borrowers wanting to buy back time under this forgiveness, the process has been much slower than many expected.

According to reports, borrowers reported waiting Up to a year To review their repurchase requests.

More detailed reports coming soon

The AFT settlement requires the Department of Education to publish detailed monthly updates explaining how it handles Income-Based Repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) requests. Each report must include the number of requests received, processed, pending, approved, and rejected.

For PSLF buybacks in particular, the reports follow:

• Number of new orders received during the month
• The issue is still pending until the end of the month
• The number processed, including approvals and rejections
• The number of borrowers whose loans were repaid under the Private Sector Support Fund in that month

Previous filings have been helpful in giving the public a clearer view of how the administration is handling long-standing issues. Advocacy groups and lawmakers alike have used the data to push for greater accountability and faster delivery times.

But the current government shutdown has halted these updates, creating uncertainty for borrowers keen to know whether the department is making progress or simply falling behind.

What should borrowers expect next?

Once the lockdown ends, the Department of Education will resume submitting its monthly backlog reports. the The first new report is expected 30 days after federal operations resumefollowed by five more monthly updates, according to the court order.

In the meantime, borrowers who are close to reaching the 120 repayment limit for PSLF forgiveness should weigh their options between repurchasing or simply resuming repayments — it may be equal payments and faster processing to simply do PSLF “the old way.”

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