President Donald Trump has called for the U.S. Department of Education to be completely eliminated, and he may issue an executive order in the coming days to make that happen. But a formal closure of the department may not be necessary to significantly disrupt key operations, including overseeing federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs. The Trump administration has already taken major steps to dismantle the department from within, including by placing many employees on leave. More substantial reductions in staffing, funding, and operations appear to be imminent. And with the likelihood increasing of a broader federal government shutdown, the department's activities may be further diminished in just a matter of weeks. Here's what student loan borrowers should know as the Department of Education plunges deeper into crisis.