President Joe Biden is currently exploring the idea of canceling federal student loan debt, awaiting memos on how much he can do legally.
The Biden White House tasked Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to explore the issue, effectively stalling immediate action on the issue as activists increasingly push for him cancel the debt.
White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden has not made a decision on the issue either way, as he is waiting for the policy memos.
“Hopefully we’ll see that in the next few weeks, and then he’ll look at that legal authority; he’ll look at the policy issues around that and he’ll make a decision,” Klain said in an April 1 interview with Politico.
In February, Biden opposed the idea of canceling $50,000 in debt during a CNN town hall.
“I will not make that happen,” he said to a questioner at the event.
But Biden expressed support for the idea of $10,000 in student debt forgiveness.
“I’m prepared to write off a $10,000 debt, but not 50,” he said. “Because I don’t think I have the authority to do it by signing the pen.”
Biden also spoke about canceling student debt for school teachers or volunteer activity.
But activists in favor of canceling $50,000 in student debt per person, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), continue pushing Biden to take action.
