Rep. Omar Probes White House On Their Plan To Cancel Student Debt

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ilhan Omar is asking the Biden White House for more information and a timeline on how the Department of Education will carry out President Joe Biden's executive order to cancel student debt.

The Minneapolis Democrat was the lead author of a letter sent to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. The letter was co-authored by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

"President Biden has publicly stated that he plans to cancel student debt," the letter reads.

"He has reiterated this intention in private meetings with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Under the expected executive order by President Biden, millions of student loan borrowers will be eligible to receive the benefit of loan cancellation. It is important that borrowers get relief quickly and aren't hampered by unnecessary roadblocks and obligations. The American public will depend on your agency's ability to deliver debt cancellation quickly and efficiently, no matter the effort and resources required."

Omar is a leading advocate in Congress for canceling outstanding student loans. In 2019, she introduced the Student Debt Cancellation Act, which would cancel all public and private student debt.

The act was introduced in the Senate by Bernie Sanders.

According to Omar's office, the Department of Education has the legal authority to cancel federal student loan debt and cancel up to $50,000 of debt for Federal student loan borrowers.

The canceling of $50,000 of student debt would benefit 36 million Americans, Omar said earlier this year.

Read the full letter sent Wednesday here.