Biden opens student loan forgiveness application


The application for federal student loan forgiveness officially launched Monday, President Biden announced.
"Today, I'm announcing millions of people working and middle-class folks can apply and get this relief. And it's simple and it's now. It's easy," Biden said at a press event with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, per CNN. Biden described the "incredible amount of effort to get this website done in such a short time."
This next phase in Biden's plan to provide debt relief to millions of qualified loan borrowers comes after the website briefly opened its application for beta testing Friday evening. During the beta testing period, Biden said the website "handled more than 8 million applications without a glitch or difficulty," per CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The application is now available in English and Spanish. Qualified applicants are those who have federally held student loans and meet the income requirements. Direct loans borrowed for undergraduate degree programs and federal PLUS loans taken out by graduate students or parents qualify for the debt relief program.
In August, Biden announced his plan to cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt for individuals who make under $125,000 yearly and an additional $10,000 for Pell Grant recipients. His plan has garnered criticism from Republicans, leading to multiple lawsuits that could temporarily put the program on pause, CNN reports. Biden told reporters he believes his administration's plan will hold up in court. Biden said outrage from his critics was "wrong" and "hypocritical."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
Does depopulation threaten humanity?
Talking Points Falling birth rates could create a 'smaller, sadder, poorer future'
-
New White House guidance means federal employees could be hearing more religious talk at work
The Explainer Employees can now try to persuade co-workers of why their religion is 'correct'
-
Real-life couples creating real-deal sparks in the best movies to star IRL partners
The Week Recommends The chemistry between off-screen items can work wonders
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office