Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Biden Again Pauses Student Loan Repayment, To Some Relief And To Much Frustration
President Biden speaks about the government's COVID-19 response.
(
JIM WATSON
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
President Joe Biden officially extended the pandemic pause on federal student loan repayment on Wednesday. Borrowers won't have to renew their monthly payments until the end of August. Reactions to the announcement have been mixed.
There've been indications for a while now that the administration would extend the student loan pause — for the fifth time. And what a lot of people are saying — whether they support canceling student debt or not — is, just make a decision. Either take some action to permanently cancel student debt or prepare borrowers for the reality that they'll once again need to start payments.
I'm glad @POTUS will extend the pause on student loan repayments. It will help so many.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 5, 2022
But I think he needs to go further. We've got to ease the burden, not merely delay it.⁰
Let's start by canceling up to $50,000 in debt per borrower.⁰
And let's do it now, Mr. President.
Biden has extended student loan debt to August 31, 2022 now. Man you keep pushing back the date. Just go ahead and waive student loan debt. Y’all been surviving without my student loan debt payment. Y’all don’t need it. Just clear my debt 🤝
— Corddaryl Woodford (@Corddaryl) April 5, 2022
Support for LAist comes from
the student loan payment extensions are traumatizing. this no longer feels like *relief*. this level of uncertainty is stressful and traumatizing! #CancelStudentDebt
— Kim Young, MSW, LCSW (@dopeblack_slwkr) April 5, 2022
Biden has said he wants Congress to pass a student debt relief bill. In the meantime, his press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the administration will continue to assess the impact of the pandemic and inflation on borrowers’ ability to repay student loans.
In a statement released by the White House, Biden hinted that students should prepare as though loan forgiveness isn't on the table.
"I’m asking all student loan borrowers to work with the Department of Education to prepare for a return to repayment, look into Public Service Loan Forgiveness and explore other options to lower their payments," he said. "Vice President [Kamala] Harris and I are focused on supporting borrowers in need, and believe that this pause will provide a continued lifeline as we recover and rebuild from the pandemic."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist