WASHINGTON D.C. - The Trump Administration announced Tuesday that it would begin wage garnishment for Americans who defaulted on their student loans on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

Wage garnishment is when an employer is required to withhold a portion of a non-government employee's salary and send it to a loan holder to repay a defaulted loan according to Federal Student Aid.

Betsy Mayotte, president and founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, says federal student loans are considered default after 270 days without a monthly payment as opposed to 30 days for most commercial loans.

"The federal government does not have to have to go to court and get a judgment in order to use the more robust collection tools at their disposal," she said.

The federal government may also withhold federal and state tax returns, as well as Social Security payments.

Over five million Americans had defaulted on their loans and had not made a monthly payment in over 360 days according to a report from the U.S. Department of Education in April.

Of the five million in default, many have been in default for more than seven years.

Approximately 38% of borrowers are current on their student loan payments.

The same report says almost 25% of the student loan portfolio will be in default.

Around 42.7 million people owe $1.6 trillion in student debt.

Mayotte says borrowers can enroll in a loan consolidation or rehabilitation plan to get out of default, which generally have lower monthly payments than wage garnishment.

"Even if you think you ca't afford payments, I encourage you to look into those options because once you're out of default, it will cost less money," she said.

Those in default can contact the Default Resolution Group in the U.S. Department of Education.