Less than three weeks before the election, the White House is planning to highlight new relief for student loan borrowers, despite legal challenges. President Joe Biden praised the $4.7 billion debt cancellation for over 60,000 borrowers as a milestone in reforming the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which previously had a low success rate. The latest announcement brings the total number of borrowers who have had their loans forgiven under the PSLF program to over one million, marking a significant achievement after past mismanagement issues. Democrats, including Biden, are eager to show their commitment to delivering on promises of student debt relief ahead of the presidential election. Unlike other strategies that have faced legal challenges, PSLF has not been stalled by lawsuits. The Education Department has also canceled significant amounts of debt under the Saving on a Valuable Education program, which bases payments on income. However, this program has been paused due to legal challenges from Republican-led states, with oral arguments set to begin soon. It is unclear if the recent announcement would have included more loan forgiveness if not for the legal challenges. Overall, the White House’s focus on providing relief for student loan borrowers underscores their commitment to making higher education more affordable and accessible.
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