Millions of student-loan borrowers have yet to leave a key repayment plan — and the first deadline is approaching.

A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed that 1.5 million of the 7.5 million borrowers on the SAVE plan had selected a new repayment plan as of Monday morning, "allowing them to make progress toward paying down their balances and access loan discharge benefits that current SAVE borrowers are missing out on." [...] An ongoing lawsuit is also seeking to stop the forced transfer of SAVE borrowers to a new plan. The law firm Public Goods Practice filed a motion in June to block the transfer, and the judge has yet to make a ruling. The department has disputed the claims within the lawsuit and recommended that borrowers select a "lawful" repayment option as soon as possible.

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Jump to [...] Other borrowers said they switched off of SAVE before receiving their notice in order to begin earning credit toward forgiveness, either through an income-driven repayment plan or Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers.

The Education Department did not comment on how quickly borrowers who do not select a new plan within their timeframe will be moved to a standard plan, or how they will be notified of the transition.