With eviction victory in hand, congressional Democrats turn attention to student loans

Remaining Forborne Loans May Require Additional Relief

Navient borrowers will receive more than $1 billion in student loan forgiveness, and other current student loan news for the week of Jan. 17, 2022

The current student loan freeze temporarily spares many students from having to make their typical monthly payments and sets their interest rates at zero percent. The policy dates back to the earliest days of the pandemic, but it is set to conclude at the end of September — meaning students could see bills again starting October 1.

Fearing some people with student loan debt still may be in dire financial straits, many liberal-leaning lawmakers in the House and Senate are urging President Biden to continue the deferral period. They point to the arrival of the new, highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus, as they make the case for additional protections into next year. Some of these Democrats are also calling for longer-term measures, including the full cancellation of their remaining debts.

Biden administration moves to block evictions in most of U.S. following liberal backlash

“Time is running out on the student-loan payment pause,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has long advocated for such relief, stressed on Wednesday. “The payment pause gives us a moment to focus on, the same way the eviction moratorium gave us a moment to focus on, what’s happening in this country.”