Bernie Sanders Moves to Block Student Debt Garnishment for Seniors

The proposed Stop Social Security Garnishment Act, co-sponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, targets the Treasury Department’s authority to garnish Social Security and Disability Insurance checks to recoup federal student loan debt. Sanders framed the bill as a necessary correction, noting that many seniors are currently struggling to afford basic necessities like housing, groceries, and healthcare while facing collection actions for loans taken out decades ago.

The policy push arrives as student loan delinquency reaches 10.6% as of the second quarter of 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Advocates argue that the situation is worsening due to the removal of repayment protections and the transition of borrowers away from previous debt-relief plans. With over 9 million Americans currently in default on federal loans, the legislation seeks to protect fixed-income households from losing essential support to a total national student debt burden nearing $2 trillion, of which $233 billion is already in default.