1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Earnings Contingent Education Loans Act of 2017 or the ExCEL Act of 2017 . 2. Termination of authority to make Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans to students under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Termination of authority to make Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans to students under this part (A) In general Notwithstanding any provision of this part or part B, for any period of instruction beginning on or after July 1, 2017— (i) a student shall not be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan under this part