President Joe Biden announced Monday that his administration has approved student loan relief for over 150,000 borrowers, bringing the total number of beneficiaries under his presidency to more than 5 million. Despite the Supreme Court striking down his broad loan forgiveness plan in 2023, Biden emphasized that his administration has canceled more student debt than any in history.

The newly approved relief includes over 80,000 borrowers defrauded by their schools, 60,000 with total and permanent disabilities, and 6,000 public service workers. Instead of implementing a new forgiveness program, the administration has expanded and reformed existing programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and income-driven repayment plans. These changes have benefited borrowers who spent decades repaying loans, public service workers, and those defrauded by for-profit institutions.

As Biden’s term nears its end, his administration recently withdrew a broader plan to cancel loans for borrowers facing financial hardship. Critics, including President-elect Donald Trump and congressional conservatives, argue that Biden’s efforts unfairly shift the financial burden onto taxpayers and exceed his executive authority. The Supreme Court has upheld these challenges, reinforcing limits on presidential power regarding student debt relief. Biden, however, remains committed to making higher education more accessible.