WASHINGTON (TND) — Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Tuesday refused to commit to an answer when asked whether campus protesters will qualify for President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.
Universities have become hotbeds of anti-Israel and anti-American sentiment in recent weeks as protesters rally in support of Palestine. While some of these demonstrations have remained peaceful, others have devolved into violence.
In a hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee Tuesday, chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., asked Cardona about the Biden administration’s loan forgiveness plan.
“You’ve been proudly volunteering taxpayers to take on the student loan debt of largely wealthy college graduates,” Rep. Foxx said. “Do you believe that students who spend their time in college calling for the destruction of an ethnic or religious group, or spend their time preventing students of particular ethnic or religious groups from walking around campus freely, or spend their time occupying campus buildings deserve to have their education paid for by taxpayers?”
“I’m really proud of the work that we’re doing to provide a lifeline to students who chose to go to college,” Cardona said.
“Do you want to have the taxpayers pay their loans off?” Rep. Foxx countered.“I believe that students who are breaking the law and are disrupting the educational environment should be held to account,” Cardona responded.When asked to "commit to ensuring" any students who somehow harmed others or committed illegal acts won't receive loan relief, the education secretary again sidestepped the inquiry.
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“We are committed to making sure campuses are safe. I condemn any form of hate or any violence on campus,” Cardona answered.
The Biden administration last week forgave $6.1 billion in student debt for more than 300,000 borrowers from private for-profit system The Art Institutes. The cancellation contributed to the nearly $160 billion in students loans Biden has already forgiven for borrowers.
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