Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) were a type of federal student loan program in the United States that provided financial assistance to students and their families. These loans were offered by private lenders but were guaranteed by the federal government, which meant that if a borrower defaulted, the government would cover the lender's losses. FFEL included several loan types, such as Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans, which helped students pay for college expenses. The program was discontinued in 2010, and new federal student loans are now issued through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.