Comment on FR Doc # 2026-06888

There are only about 770 remaining JSCL loans. Even if every loan has two co-borrowers applying separately, that is fewer than 1600 people maximum. So where does 37,000 come from? ED acknowledges, "The total number of borrowers with outstanding joint consolidation loans is relatively small, and not all of those borrowers will apply to separate their joint consolidation loans." Thus, ED is using the small population as justification for offering only a paper application rather than building an electronic system but then estimates 37,000 applicants. This contradiction is not explained. The same "37,000" respondents figure was used in the public notice for the original separation application. It appeared to be wrong and arbitrary then just as it is arbitrary now. Under federal law, a federal agency is to respond to significant comments and to explain its bases. ED needs to explain how it arrived at the purported 37,000 respondents figure not once but twice. And assuming the original 37,000 figure was correct, how is it that ED expects 37,000 respondents again when this is an updated form only for those Joint Spousal Consolidation Loan borrowers who have not yet applied to separate their loans. And by the way, ED still has not fully implemented the letter or spirit of the Joint Spousal Loan Consolidation Act. This attempt to "follow the OBBBA" is another example of ED's foot dragging when it comes to providing meaningful relief to this small group of borrowers. Ridiculous.