WASHINGTON — During a campaign rally in April, President Joe Biden introduced a transformative plan aimed at providing student loan forgiveness, which he claimed would offer significant economic relief to over 30 million Americans. However, since taking on the role of the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has largely avoided addressing the topic at her public events. Her campaign platform mentions student loan cancellation only twice, lacking any detailed proposals. As she appeals to moderate constituents, Harris has shifted her focus to initiatives that assist Americans who do not hold college degrees.
“In the past, our nation has predominantly championed a singular route to success: achieving a four-year college degree,” Harris asserted in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in September. “We need to acknowledge and value the importance of other career pathways.”
The perspective on student loan cancellation has transformed significantly in just a few years, evolving from a core Democratic principle to a potential political hindrance. Once anticipated to galvanize young voters, the topic is now frequently exploited by Republican opponents, who argue that such measures favor the elite while disadvantaging those who have fulfilled their loan obligations or chose not to pursue higher education.
During a presidential debate in September, the issue of student loan forgiveness briefly surfaced, with former President Donald Trump criticizing both Biden and Harris for not delivering on their commitments regarding broad student debt relief. He described the current situation as a “total catastrophe” that has let down young individuals. “They didn’t even come close to addressing the student loan crisis,” Trump commented.
Biden’s attempts at student loan forgiveness have continually faced obstacles. Initially, he campaigned on the promise of canceling up to $20,000 for millions, influenced by progressive figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders. However, as president, he has encountered severe resistance from Republican-led factions. For the approximately 42 million individuals carrying federal student loans, the prospect of forgiveness has shifted to feelings of disappointment and hopelessness.
Biden’s initial initiative to provide significant cancellation was thwarted by the Supreme Court last year. A second, more limited plan has also been stalled by a federal judge following legal challenges from Republican states. Additionally, a policy designed to lower repayment amounts for struggling borrowers is currently on hold due to similar judicial intervention.
Recently, the Biden administration initiated another effort toward providing loan relief, this time aimed at individuals with substantial financial hardships beyond just their student debts. This latest initiative arrives with an unclear outlook, notably just days before the November 5 election.
The prevailing legal ambiguity likely influenced Harris’ decision to de-emphasize student loan cancellation during her campaign, according to Michelle Dimino, the education program director at the centrist organization Third Way. She noted that for the moment, there is little new to present until the legal outcomes are clearer. “When Biden initially proposed widespread cancellation, it represented an uncharted approach. Now, we are in a vastly altered political environment compared to 2020, which was marked by untapped potential,” Dimino explained.
Harris’ reticence on the issue highlights the inherent political dangers, especially in a closely contested election. Any new commitment to loan cancellation could provoke a strong response from Republicans, using it as a rallying call. Furthermore, for those individuals who would benefit from forgiveness, promises they’ve already heard may ring hollow.
“The Harris campaign has come to realize that this issue may not garner favorable political traction,” stated Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “The narrative surrounding student loan policies has yet to yield tangible support at the polls.”
Even among moderate Americans, there is a growing skepticism toward student loan forgiveness initiatives. A June poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported that only 30% of U.S. adults support Biden’s efforts regarding student debt cancellation, with approval not significantly better among those currently repaying their loans. Just over half of Democrats expressed their favorable view towards Biden’s actions, while a mere 18% of independents felt the same way.
Both Harris and Trump propose alternatives to traditional college education. The Harris campaign refrained from providing specific details or responding to inquiries regarding her student loan cancellation strategy. Her policy platform prioritizes workers without degrees before mentioning student loans. During her September rally in Pennsylvania, she received applause for her proposal to eliminate unnecessary degree prerequisites for federal employment, yet she made no mention of student loans during her lengthy address.
Harris’ remarks reflect a point that resonates with Republicans, a stance increasingly shared by Democrats as many reconsider the worth of a college degree. “By advocating for student loan forgiveness, there is a chance of alienating potential supporters among those without a college background,” stated Andrew Gillen, a research fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom. “These divisive topics may hinder progress on other issues that could gain bipartisan endorsement. Once the discourse surrounding student loan forgiveness stabilizes, I anticipate more common ground will emerge.”
This shared perspective forms one of the few areas of agreement between Harris and Trump. The former president has pledged to “encourage the development of additional, significantly more affordable options than the traditional four-year college degree.” However, his platform does not address loan cancellation directly, and he has openly criticized such measures as unlawful.
“Trump intends to implement genuine strategies to make housing, education, and living costs more affordable for young individuals to assist them in achieving the American dream,” remarked Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for Trump’s campaign, concerning his education platform.
Advocates for student loan forgiveness highlight the vagueness of Trump’s commitments, noting his failure to address the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, alongside his appointments of judges who effectively halted wider student debt relief efforts. “Trump is proud of his record on harming working families,” asserted Melissa Byrne, a political activist advocating for student loan cancellations.
The future of potential further student loan forgiveness remains uncertain. While serving as California’s attorney general, Harris was instrumental in penalizing for-profit institutions for exploiting borrowers. In her 2019 presidential candidacy, she proposed a more restricted approach to loan forgiveness than the broader initiatives championed by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Harris’ plan aimed to provide $20,000 in loan relief to any federal Pell Grant recipient who initiated a business in an underprivileged area and maintained it for three years.
After the Biden administration announced the cancellation of loans for over 1 million public service workers earlier this month, Harris released a statement commending these actions, reiterating her commitment to making “higher education more affordable.”
Aissa Canchola Bañez, political director at Protect Borrowers Action, expressed confidence that Harris would continue to support the commitments established under the Biden administration regarding student debt relief. “This is a matter she has actively engaged with long before her tenure in Washington, D.C.,” Canchola Bañez emphasized, noting the unprecedented measures of student loan debt relief achieved during Biden’s administration. “We have consistently observed the vice president championing the relief initiatives implemented thus far.”
