OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Biden administration announced that it won’t extend student loan relief and confirmed student loan payments will restart on Feb. 1, 2022.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that the administration would not seek to extend the pause on student loan payment.
“In the coming weeks, we will release more details about our plans. We will engage directly with federal student loan borrowers to ensure they have the resources they need and are in the appropriate repayment plan,” Psaki said.
“We are still assessing the impact of the Omicron variant. A smooth transition back into repayment is a high priority for the administration. The Department of Education is already communicating with borrowers to help them to help to prepare for return to repayment on February 1,” she said.
“41 million borrowers have benefitted from the extended student loan payment pause, but it expires February 1, so right now we’re just making a range of preparations,” she added.
The announcement did not sit well with liberals, especially the progressive wing of the party.
“Biden ran on a promise of student loan relief, paving a way to help millions of people. Now student loan payments are set to begin on Feb 1st. Broken promises will lose is elections in 2022 & 2024. Biden we voted for you to follow through on your promises,” replied self-described “drag artist” Marti Cummings.
Biden ran on a promise of student loan relief, paving a way to help millions of people. Now student loan payments are set to begin on Feb 1st. Broken promises will lose is elections in 2022 & 2024. Biden we voted for you to follow through on your promises.
— Marti (@MartiGCummings) December 13, 2021
“A note to Democrats who blame progressives after losing an election: Forcing millions to start paying student loans again and cutting off the Child Tax Credit at the start of an election year is not a winning strategy. We’re warning you now, don’t point fingers in November,” Missouri Democrat Rep. Cori Bush tweeted.
A note to Democrats who blame progressives after losing an election:
Forcing millions to start paying student loans again and cutting off the Child Tax Credit at the start of an election year is not a winning strategy.
We're warning you now, don't point fingers in November.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) December 13, 2021
“People need relief and they need it now. Pass the Build Back Better Act and cancel student debt,” demanded Washington Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Americans carry more debt today than ever before — $15 TRILLION in student loans, medical bills, rent payments, and more.
People need relief and they need it now. Pass the Build Back Better Act and cancel student debt.
— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) December 13, 2021
“This will be bad,” claimed Mckayla Wilkes, a progressive candidate for Congress.
638,000 people have received student loan forgiveness under the Biden Administration & their lives have improved!
But let me get this straight: for the other 98.6% of borrowers, payments are turning on next month w/o any forgiveness at all? Not even the $10k?
This will be bad.
— Mckayla Wilkes for Congress (@MeetMckayla) December 13, 2021
“The more and more emails I get about student loan payments starting back up the more and more I regret voting for Biden LYING ASS!” said one critic.
The more and more emails I get about student loan payments starting back up the more and more I regret voting for Biden LYING ASS! 😒
— 卂.匚.✨ (@_amandownnn) December 11, 2021
Interestingly enough, Chasten Buttigieg, the same-sex husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, mocked a message he received about his own student loan.
.@Chasten doesn’t appear to be a fan of the Biden admin’s plan to restart student loan payments next month: pic.twitter.com/1mXiUYBRnx
— Michael Stratford (@mstratford) December 12, 2021
Things are so bad that Business Insider ran a story about an Independent voter with $163,000 in student debt who left the Democratic Party after 4 decades because she felt “betrayed” by Biden.
“I’ve been registered as a Democrat since I was of voting age,” Andretta told Business Insider. “But throughout this last year, I was an independent instead because I’m just so frustrated and disheartened. One of the main reasons why I was so in favor of Biden was because I really felt that he was going to help us with the student-loan problem.”
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to retire,” Andretta said. “I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to continue living in New York. I’ve been looking at other options in other states because it’s so expensive to live here with these additional bills that are going to be coming my way.”
“This debt is just overwhelming for people,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said. “If we don’t extend the pause, interest rates just pile up. Students owe a fortune. And with Omicron here, we’re not getting out of this as quickly as we’d like.”
