The White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal increases defense spending by $1.5 trillion while slashing $73 billion from domestic programs, resulting in opposition from advocates demanding that Congress account for how taxpayer dollars will be spent.
Charlene Crowell
Posted inEducation
Appeals court ends affordable SAVE Program for 7 million student loan borrowers
The end of the SAVE program and staff reductions at the Education Department will result in increased financial strain for borrowers, particularly those with the greatest financial need, and decreased oversight of loan servicers, potentially leading to inaccurate repayments.
Posted inNews
Predatory Lenders Exploit Renters with Misleading ‘Rent Now, Pay Later’ Loans
A new report reveals how “Rent Now, Pay Later” loans are targeting renters with hidden fees and deceptive practices, pushing them further into debt and increasing the risk of eviction.
Posted inNews
Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign foretold America’s affordability crisis
Affordability has become a pressing issue for many, with stagnant wages and rising costs of living, as evidenced by the struggles of student loan borrowers and the potential for increased health insurance costs, prompting a call for lawmakers to heed the concerns of the people and work towards economic justice and inclusion.
Posted inBusiness
Don’t let predatory debt traps rob the holiday season’s joy
App-based loans, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and Earned Wage Access (EWA), can lead to increased financial stress and instability due to their high fees, hidden costs, and potential for loan stacking.
Posted inEducation
Lawsuits Challenge New Rule that Threatens Student Loan Forgiveness Program
The Biden administration’s new rule for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program will exclude employers that do not align with White House policies, potentially affecting 9 million borrowers and leading to lawsuits challenging the rule as illegal.
Posted inNews
Social Security Benefits Struggle to Keep up with Rising Living Costs
The federal government shutdown has delayed the announcement of Social Security’s 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment, which is needed to ensure retirees can keep up with rising costs, but many retirees are still struggling to make ends meet due to insufficient benefits and rising Medicare Part B premiums.
Posted inNews
Will Social Security’s 2026 COLA offset rising everyday costs?
The 2026 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has been delayed due to the federal government shutdown, and many retirees are struggling to make ends meet with the current benefit levels, which are insufficient to cover living expenses in most states.
Posted inEducation
A brutal bill cuts CFPB funding in half as new student loan limits add to consumer financial stress
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on the nation’s 249th birthday, adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years, cutting funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and making the tax code more complicated and less fair.
Posted inNews
Harvard Report, State of the Nation’s Housing 2025: Black homeownership gains have halted since 2023 Only 1 in 7 renters can afford to buy a home
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 report finds that rising home prices, interest rates, and property taxes are making homeownership and renting unaffordable for many middle-class families, with only 6 million of the nation’s 46 million renter households earning enough to afford a median-priced home.
