H.R. 2028: REDI Act
Sponsor
Brian Babin
Republican · TX-36
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why it matters
New doctors and dentists often earn modest pay during training while carrying huge student debt, and this bill would stop that debt from growing during residency.
The policy is narrow. It does not erase debt, shorten training, or apply broadly to all graduate students. It applies to borrowers in medical or dental internship or residency programs and only changes how interest and deferred payments work during that training window. The main debate will likely be whether this targeted relief is worth the federal cost and whether similar treatment should be extended to other professionals with mandatory post-graduate training.
What does H.R. 2028 do?
Interest-free deferment for residents
Borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program would be able to pause their loans without interest building up during that time.
No required principal payments during training
Eligible borrowers would not have to make regular principal payments while they are in the covered internship or residency program.
Adds medical and dental residency as a qualifying category
The bill explicitly adds service in a medical or dental internship or residency program to the list of situations that qualify a borrower for deferment.
Overrides current interest rules for this group
The bill creates a special rule saying that, for these borrowers, interest does not accrue even if other parts of federal student loan law would normally allow it.
Applies to federal loans under this part of law
The change applies to loans made under the relevant part of the Higher Education Act, which generally means certain federal direct student loans rather than every loan a borrower may have.
Who benefits from H.R. 2028?
Medical residents and interns
They would be able to delay payments without watching their federal loan balances grow from added interest during required training years.
Dental residents and interns
They would receive the same protection from interest growth while completing advanced training programs.
Borrowers with high professional school debt
People leaving medical or dental school with very large federal loan balances could avoid thousands of dollars in added interest.
Hospitals and training programs
Lower financial pressure on trainees could make residency positions more attractive and help with recruitment and retention.
Who is affected by H.R. 2028?
Federal student loan borrowers in covered training programs
Their repayment timelines and loan growth during residency or internship would change because payments could be deferred without interest accrual.
Federal government
The government would collect less interest revenue from eligible borrowers during the deferment period.
Loan servicers and the Education Department
They would need to identify eligible borrowers and update servicing systems to apply the new interest-free deferment correctly.
Other graduate and professional borrowers
They may not get the same benefit, which could raise fairness questions from people in other long training paths.
H.R. 2028 Common Questions
Can medical residents defer federal student loans without interest under the REDI Act?
Yes. Under the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act, borrowers in a medical internship or residency could defer covered federal loans and no interest would accrue during that period (Section 2(3)).
Can dental residents pause student loans with no interest under HR 2028?
Yes. According to H.R. 2028 Section 2(3), borrowers serving in a dental internship or residency program would be eligible for deferment, and interest would not accrue during that deferment.
Does the REDI Act stop student loan interest from growing during residency?
Yes. Under the REDI Act, interest shall not accrue on covered loans while the borrower is in a medical or dental internship or residency deferment (Section 2(3)).
Do medical residents have to make principal payments during deferment under the REDI Act?
No. Under the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act, periodic installments of principal need not be paid during the deferment period for eligible medical or dental interns and residents (Section 2(3)).
Does the REDI Act apply to all student loans or only federal direct loans?
Only to loans made under Part D of the Higher Education Act. Under H.R. 2028 Section 2(3), the no-interest rule applies to any loan made to the borrower under "this part."
Is medical residency added as a qualifying reason for student loan deferment in the REDI Act?
Yes. The REDI Act adds service in a medical internship or residency program to the deferment eligibility list in the Higher Education Act (Section 2(2)(D)).
Is dental residency added as a qualifying reason for student loan deferment in HR 2028?
Yes. According to H.R. 2028 Section 2(2)(D), service in a dental internship or residency program is added as a qualifying basis for deferment.
Does the REDI Act override other federal student loan interest rules for residents?
Yes. Under the REDI Act, the residency deferment rule applies "notwithstanding any other provision" of the Higher Education Act, giving it priority over conflicting rules (Section 2(3)).
Based on H.R. 2028 bill text
HR2028 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Mar 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Brian Babin
Republican, Texas's 36th congressional district · 11 years in Congress
Committees: Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure
View full profile →
Cosponsors (76)
This bill has 76 cosponsors: 44 Democrats, 32 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 37 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, and 34 more.
Chrissy Houlahan
Democrat · PA
Don Bacon
Republican · NE
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Sharice Davids
Democrat · KS
John Joyce
Republican · PA
Kevin Kiley
Republican · CA
Hillary Scholten
Democrat · MI
Scott DesJarlais
Republican · TN
Judy Chu
Democrat · CA
Nicole Malliotakis
Republican · NY
Raja Krishnamoorthi
Democrat · IL
David Rouzer
Republican · NC
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
4 of 36 committee members cosponsored
18 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 2028 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Mar 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Mar 11, 2025
Official Sources
Full bill text, cosponsors, and legislative history for the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act.
The statute this bill amends, including current deferment eligibility rules under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Current deferment types available to federal student loan borrowers, administered by the Office of Federal Student Aid.
The Department of Education office that administers over $120 billion in student aid annually and would implement this bill's changes.
The committee to which HR 2028 has been referred for consideration in the 119th Congress.
Data on physician and dental workforce shortages that this bill aims to address by reducing financial barriers during residency training.
H.R. 2028 Bill Text
“To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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