The Trump administration abruptly removed two critical applications related to student loan forgiveness and repayment on Friday, throwing the system into further turmoil.

"President Trump cannot shut down the US Department of Education through an executive order," student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz said in an email. "But, if he can't eliminate the

Here’s where things currently stand with the Department of Education, and what student loan borrowers and prospective college students should know.

The Trump administration has promised to eliminate the Department of Education, shifting more responsibility back to the states. States already have significant control over education — particularly when it comes to setting standards and deciding on curriculum,

The president is reportedly drafting an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education. What that could mean for federal student loan borrowers.

The Trump administration is gearing up for large changes to the Department of Education, which oversees a $1.6 trillion portfolio of student loans.

Efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle the Education Department are underway. Here's what it could mean for students.

President Donald Trump has reportedly set his sights on eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, a long-time Republican goal and promise from his campaign. The proposed plan, though, gives rise to a host of unanswered questions—not least of which is what happens to the 42-plus million Americans with federal student loan debt.

Although the elimination of the Department of Education is not yet a reality, its budget cuts could create administrative and financial challenges for millions of borrowers.