On August 24, President Joe Biden officially announced his administration’s plan to start alleviating student loan debt.

This was one of Biden’s signature campaign promises during the 2020 circuit, and comes at a critical time just before the midterm elections.

The plan will take place in three phases, with the end goal of helping or totally eradicating the debt of those who are low-income or were on Pell grants. According to the White House’s fact sheet published on the same day, crippling student loan debt is a problem that plagues more than 45 million Americans.

Pell grants, or federally funded grants, are given to those who struggle financially and would otherwise be unable to get a higher education. These grants are essentially scholarships, so they do not have to be repaid. For those who received a Pell grant, Biden says they are eligible to receive up to $20,000. Those who did not receive a Pell grant can seek forgiveness of up to $10,000 worth of loans.

According to studentaid.com, those seeking assistance with their loans have until the end of 2023 to apply.

The plan aims to provide aid to the lowest-income Americans first. As of now, the administration, per their website, says “no individual making more than $125,000 or household making more than $250,000 will receive relief.”

This, like all legislation, is open to change, but of course, with any decision made by the government, there has been backlash.

Biden has critics on both sides of the issue: those who have student loans but make too much to qualify are upset the plan excludes them, while those who have no student loans believe the administration is using their tax dollars to go to causes that do not have an impact on them.

“In the 21st century,” President Biden said in the press briefing following the decision, “In my view, for the vast majority of Americans, 12 years of universal education is not enough, and that we’re going to be out-competed by the rest of the world.”

The money to forgive loans is not coming directly out of the income tax every American is required to pay, especially the money going toward private universities. It is easy to draw this conclusion, but upon a deeper examination, many Americans’ lives would be vastly different if someone they currently depend on did not receive a college education.

I believe this decision on Biden’s part is rather progressive, given the moderate president’s track record. Biden’s administration is determined to take care of those who

need it most, first. While all Americans are guaranteed a right to an education, it is not guaranteed that the road to getting one will be easy.

Article by Julia Chamberlain