AAE Joins Coalition Urging Congress to Advance the REDI Act
The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) recently joined the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and other medical and dental organizations in urging Congress to advance the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act (S. 942/H.R. 2028). Led by AAOMS, the coalition is calling on congressional leaders to move the bipartisan, bicameral legislation forward as a targeted solution to the growing student debt challenges facing medical and dental residents.
For endodontic residents, the issue is particularly important. Dentists can graduate with significant educational debt and then spend additional years completing the advanced clinical training required to become specialists. During residency, they typically earn modest salaries while managing their existing student loan obligations. Although current deferment and forbearance options may allow residents to temporarily pause payments, interest can continue to accrue, increasing their overall debt before they enter practice.
The REDI Act would address this challenge by allowing eligible borrowers enrolled in accredited medical and dental internship or residency programs to defer interest accrual on their federal student loans during their required postgraduate training. By preventing additional interest from accumulating during residency, the legislation would help reduce the financial burden on future physicians and dentists and help ensure that educational debt does not discourage individuals from pursuing critical careers in patient care.
The need for action has become even more pressing following recent changes to federal student loan policy. Beginning July 1, 2026, new federal borrowing caps for graduate and professional students and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program reduced financing options available to future medical and dental students. While these changes are intended to address rising tuition costs, the coalition cautioned that they may increase the immediate financial challenges facing students pursuing careers in medicine and dentistry. Against this changing financial landscape, preventing interest from accruing during required residency training represents a practical way to support the next generation of healthcare professionals.
AAE has also been leading the charge among its own members and residents to build grassroots support for the REDI Act. At AAE26, members were encouraged to take action and directly contact their lawmakers in support of the legislation, generating more than 60 messages to Congress. AAE continued that momentum at APICES 2026 in St. Louis, where Advocacy staff connected with endodontic residents, educated them about the REDI Act and provided opportunities for them to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Together, these efforts demonstrate the important role endodontists and residents can play in complementing national coalition advocacy with direct constituent engagement.
The impact of the REDI Act extends beyond individual borrowers. Reducing financial pressures during residency can help support a more sustainable healthcare workforce and encourage physicians and dentists to pursue specialties and serve communities where provider shortages persist. Improving the financial environment for postgraduate training can ultimately strengthen access to timely patient care while helping reduce preventable complications and unnecessary healthcare costs.
By joining the AAOMS-led coalition effort and continuing to mobilize endodontists and residents through its own grassroots advocacy, AAE is working on multiple fronts to advance the REDI Act. The Association remains committed to supporting policies that strengthen the dental workforce, reduce unnecessary financial barriers to advanced education and ensure that the next generation of endodontists can focus on their training, their profession and the patients they will serve.