President Joe Biden said nearly 22 million people have applied to have their student loan debt canceled in just one week, taking aim at Republicans who have challenged his signature program in court and slammed the relief as a giveaway to elites.
"I know you're really special, but I didn't know you're the elite few," Biden said Friday in Dover, Delaware, addressing students at Delaware State University, a historically black college and university. The president singled out comments from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said debt relief is for "slackers" who don't deserve it.
"Who the hell do they think they are?" Biden said.
Less than three weeks before the midterm elections, the president delivered one of his most aggressive pushes to get credit for a program that could provide relief for up to 40 million Americans. Republicans have roundly criticized Biden's executive action, signed in August, as unfair to other Americans who worked to pay off their debts.
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Although student debt cancelation is widely popular among young people, it's unclear whether Biden's action will motivate them to vote in the midterms.
"Let's talk about who's against helping the millions of you need the help," Biden said, pointing to Republican members of Congress and governors who are "doing everything they can" to deny the relief. "Their outrage is wrong. And it's hypocritical."
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The president's comments came on the heels of two wins in court for Biden's plan. A federal judge in Missouri on Thursday dismissed a case brought by six Republican-led states that sought an injunction block the debt cancelation, though they plan to appeal. The Supreme Court denied taking up a separate court challenge from a Wisconsin taxpayer group that argued Biden overstepped his presidential authority.
"They've been fighting us in the courts. But just yesterday, a state court and the Supreme Court said, 'No, we're on Biden's side,'" Biden said.
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Under the president's plan, borrowers are eligible for $10,000 or $20,000 in debt relief, depending on their income and whether they received a Pell Grant in college. Borrowers must earn less than $125,000 a year or reside in households that make no more than $250,000. More than 75% of students at Delaware State are Pell Grant recipients.
The White House officially unveiled its student loan debt forgiveness application Monday after a soft launch Oct. 14. By the time of the official announcement, 8 million people had already applied for part of their debt to be canceled. And by Tuesday, another 4 million applications had been filed. An additional 10 million people have applied since then.
About half of the 40 million Americans who are eligible to have their debt canceled could see their entire student loan balance wiped out.
Borrowers need their Social Security number and birthdate to apply using the government's online form, which is eventually supposed to become available on paper.
On the application form, borrowers who want to have part of their debt forgiven must attest to meeting income eligibility, and providing false information could lead to fines or jail time. Some borrowers may have to file proof of their income.
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Those who apply this month could have their debt erased as soon as November. And the federal government is urging borrowers to apply by Nov. 15 if they want to see their balances lowered ahead of the end of a freeze on payments that began during the pandemic and ends Jan. 1, 2023.
The application is available in English and Spanish and via desktop computer or smartphone. People who applied when the beta version went live do not need to reapply.
"Folks, it takes less than five minutes," Biden said. "This is a game-changer."
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.
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