DOVER, Del. ( Associated Press) — President Joe Biden announced Friday that nearly 22 million people have applied for federal student loan forgiveness in the week since his administration opened the application for internet, more than half the number the White House believes are eligible for the program.
During an event at Delaware State University, a historically black college where the majority of students receive Pell Grants, Biden showed off the statistics for the first week since the application system launched last Friday. She officially introduced him to the White House on Monday.
Biden’s plan calls for the forgiveness of $10,000 of federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or for families earning less than $250,000 a year. Those who have received federal Pell Grants to attend college will be able to apply for an additional $10,000 for forgiveness. The plan makes 20 million people eligible for full cancellation of their federal student debt.
Biden highlighted how easy it is to apply for debt relief, since it doesn’t require users to upload any forms or create an account.
“Guys, it takes less than 5 minutes,” Biden noted. He said that “most” applicants can do the process from their phones.
Biden lashed out at Republicans who have criticized his aid program, saying “their outrage is wrong and hypocritical.”
“I don’t want to hear it from Republican MAGA officials” who had millions in debt and pandemic relief loans forgiven. He pointed to GOP lawmakers like Reps. Vern Buchanan and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who received loan forgiveness, and Sen. Ted Cruz, who called some student loan recipients “slackers.”
“Who the hell do they think they are?” Biden questioned.
Associated Press
