That wasn't the start of the Fed giving out loans directly. They were already directly loaning 1/3 of all student loans in 2010. If you're still paying off a student loan over 10 years after graduation.... Also, the Federal Gov would have no ability to forgive a loan it didn't make. Even if it did those loans would be the vast minority of outstanding loan debt. They would mostly likely be paid off or substantially paid down, not to mention that tuition prices would have been far lower 15 years ago than they are today.