Student loan borrowers in the US are facing frustrating delays in accessing repayment plans as a backlog from the Trump administration era continues to grow. More than 1 million applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans remain unprocessed, while a government shutdown has brought much of the Education Department’s work to a halt. The backlog means borrowers cannot switch to new repayment options, leaving many stuck paying rising interest and unable to make progress on loan forgiveness programs. The situation shows no signs of improving anytime soon. Backlog swelling amid government shutdown According to court records cited by CNBC, as of August 31, 1,076,266 IDR plan applications were pending with the Education Department. A spokesperson for the department told CNBC that

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