The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit has ordered the permanent end of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, a program that provided millions of federal student loan borrowers with the lowest monthly payments of any plan ever offered. The court reversed a lower court’s February dismissal and directed a district judge to finalize a settlement between the Trump administration and the state of Missouri that officially kills SAVE. Over 7 million borrowers are still enrolled and their loans have been accruing interest since August 2025. With no clear timeline from the Department of Education on when or how borrowers must switch plans, financial pressure is mounting. The Department of Enforcement plans to issue guidance on next steps for SAVE borrowers in the coming weeks, including instructions on how to move into a legal repayment plan.