Senate Passes Legislation to Block Biden’s Student Loan Relief Program, Despite Criticism from Democrats and Advocates

In a close vote, the Senate passed legislation Thursday to block President Joe Biden’s student loan relief program. The vote was 52-46, with a few moderate senators, including Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana and independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, voting with Republicans.

The legislation would repeal Biden’s debt relief program and end the administration’s pause on federal student loan payments. The Biden administration’s student loan relief plan cancels either $10,000 or $20,000 in debt for tens of millions of borrowers, although it’s being held up in the courts.

The vote comes a day after senators took a similarly close vote to proceed to the measure. Just a simple majority of senators were needed to pass the legislation and send it to Biden’s desk.

The passage of the legislation has been met with criticism from Democrats and advocates of student loan relief. Senate Democrats tweeted that Republicans had “just voted to block @POTUS’ student debt relief plan, force millions to immediately pay back paused student loans & claw back relief from public.”

The legislation now goes to President Biden’s desk, where he is expected to veto it. If he does, it is unlikely that the Senate has the votes to override the veto.