Confusion and difficulty in navigating changing student loan policies exacerbate challenges for borrowers trying to manage their debts. Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default. SUGGESTED: Harvard says no to Trump demands: What to know about $2B funding freezeIn 2020, President Donald Trump paused federal student loan payments and interest accrual as a temporary relief measure for student borrowers. For borrowers in default, one step to avoid wage garnishment is to get into loan rehabilitation, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors.