Memorandum on Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans
Issued 2019-08-21 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This memorandum directs the Secretaries of Education and Veterans Affairs to simplify the process for totally and permanently disabled veterans to have their federal student loan debt discharged. Under existing law—the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended in 2008—veterans who have been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition are entitled to have their federal student loans discharged. However, the existing application process has been overly complicated and difficult, requiring veterans to submit applications with proof of their disabilities obtained from the VA.
The memorandum notes that only about half of the approximately 50,000 totally and permanently disabled veterans who currently qualify have actually received this debt discharge. It directs the Secretary of Education to develop a quicker, more efficient process that makes use of disability determinations already available from the Department of Veterans Affairs, rather than requiring veterans to navigate a burdensome separate application.
This action affects totally and permanently disabled veterans with federal student loan debt. The memorandum aims to ensure these veterans can access benefits they are already legally entitled to under existing law, without the administrative obstacles that have prevented many from receiving this relief.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This presidential memorandum ("Memorandum on Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans") provides direction to executive branch agencies. The stated purpose: "that all totally and permanently disabled veterans are able to obtain, with minimal burden, the Federal student loan debt discharges to which they are legally entitled." Presidential memoranda function similarly to executive orders but are typically more narrow in scope, addressing specific agencies or implementation details. The President's authority to direct executive branch operations is grounded in Article II of the Constitution.
Memoranda are a routine administrative tool. They guide agencies on priorities, interpretation of statutes, and implementation procedures. As long as they operate within the bounds of existing law and respect congressional mandates, they are a standard exercise of presidential power that every modern administration has used.
Official Summary
Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2019 Memorandum on Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans August 21, 2019 Memorandum for the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Subject: Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans Since our Founding, the United States has been blessed with men and women willing to serve in defense of our Nation and our ideals. Many of those answering the call to serve make the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and many others carry physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act in 2008 and other acts (Higher Education Act), honors veterans who are totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service to the Nation by providing for the discharge of their Federal student loan debt. Borrowers who have been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition and who provide documentation of that determination to the Secretary of Education are entitled to the discharge of such debt. For the last decade, veterans seeking loan discharges have been required to subm