Ed Department: Mass Loan Cancellation Is Off the Table

Ever since President Biden said that his administration would try again to offer broad student debt relief after the Supreme Court struck down his first plan, experts and advocates have wondered what shape that relief would take. On Tuesday, the department offered its clearest answer yet—at least about what it is not planning to do. The department is not looking at broad-based debt cancellation, instead, it is exploring ways to provide relief to distinct groups of borrowers, such as those who have seen their balances balloon because of unpaid interest.