ORLANDO, Fla. — A recent decision by two federal judges halted much of the Biden administration’s ongoing student loan forgiveness program.

The judges ruled that the administration overstepped its authority when canceling certain amounts of student loan debt, and reducing the amounts some borrowers pay back each month.

Evence Eliassaint is beginning his senior year at the University of Central Florida, and said he knows that not long after he graduates, he’ll have to begin paying off his student loans.

He already owes about $24,000.

“It’s a lot of money to have to pay off, and I’m not 100% certain I will be able to (pay it off) in the next 10 years," Eliassaint said. "Maybe it will take me even longer than that, and maybe that will affect my future and my family."

Eliassaint is already working as a digital media intern for NASA’s Launch Services program, and could land a full-time job in that role when he graduates. But even with that potential full-time income on the way, he still worries about factoring in the cost of paying off student loans.

“I know I’m going to have to pay things like rent, a mortgage, food and things like that. Necessities and gas, and that’s not taking loans into consideration,” said Eliassaint.

The federal judges’ decision doesn’t affect those who’ve already benefited from the debt forgiveness program.  UCF associate professor Aubrey Jewett has closely watched the recent political and legal developments.

“They’re not going to come back and try to get that money or say, ‘Sorry, the federal government promised you were out, now you’re back in,’” said Jewett.

But the legal rulings mean that on July 1, the federal government won’t be able to move forward with adding more people to the debt forgiveness program, or reduce the monthly rates for borrowers paying off existing loans, a measure the federal government was expected to implement.

Eliassaint isn’t typically on the receiving end of help. His nonprofit organization Stop Cappin Entertainment raises money for numerous causes, including mental health awareness, the fight against breast cancer and it also helps the homeless.

But he worries he may be in need of financial help after he graduates. And now the uncertainty surrounding the federal loan forgiveness program leaves him wondering if that help will ever be there for him.

“Hopefully that does happen one day," Eliassaint said. "But the fact it’s taken a step back is a bit worrying, and not just for me."

Stop Cappin Entertainment vice president Victoria Phillips is also approaching graduation. And so far, she said she doesn’t have a full-time job lined up yet. She also faces nearly $20,000 already in student loans.

“Not having anything lined up for sure, it’s definitely adds a little stress, because I also don’t have a car right now either,” said Phillips. “So there are other goals I need to raise money for, or build savings for, and then knowing the loans are going to be looming back there that I need to take care of, it’s a burden.”

One of the judges’ rulings allows borrowers who had $12,000 or less in loans to still have their loans forgiven after making monthly payments for ten years.