The White House extended the federal student loan payment pause through August 31, but has not announced a decision about wiping out debt.
Canceling student loan debt through executive action is « still on the table, » said White House press secretary Jen Psaki, after the Biden administration once again delayed the restart of federal student loan payments earlier this month. The White House has faced continued questions about what the administration will do about the student loan debt crisis since the president took office more than a year ago. Psaki made the remarks during an interview with the podcast Pod Save America in Washington, D.C. The was extending the pause of federal student loans through August 31. That pause, which has been in place since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, was set to expire on May 1, but had already been pushed back multiple times under first the Trump and then Biden administrations. « So between now and August 31st, it’s either going to be extended or we’re going to make a decision, as Ron referenced, about canceling student debt, » said Psaki, acknowledging previous remarks by White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, who said in early April the administration would make a decision before the previous May 1 deadline or extend the pause as well.
