Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn’t mince words in her scathing critique of the Biden administration’s educational policies, particularly targeting the student loan forgiveness program and the mishandling of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) updates.
In a pointed letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Sanders and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Olivia accused the administration of rolling out disastrous policies that have adversely affected Arkansans.
Sanders lambasted the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program as “unfair, unwise, and unlawful,” arguing that it burdens non-college attendees with the costs of others’ education and fails to address the underlying issue of rising college tuition expenses.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Credits: Politico)
She cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s declaration of the program as unconstitutional, highlighting the legal hurdles it faces.
Sanders criticized the mishandling of the FAFSA program, characterizing the department’s rollout of updated forms as “functionally nonoperational,” causing serious delays and complications for students and families seeking federal student aid. The technical glitches and delays have exacerbated frustrations and hindered access to crucial financial assistance.
The letter also raised concerns about Cardona’s pledge to shut down Grand Canyon University, a prominent Christian institution in the U.S., adding to the list of grievances against the administration’s educational policies.
In response, the Department of Education defended Cardona’s commitment to delivering results for students and families, emphasizing their focus on prioritizing people over politics. However, Sanders remained skeptical, urging the administration to offer more than “empty words” and address the challenges facing Arkansans.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (Credits: UPI)
The Biden administration’s proposal for a new loan forgiveness program targeting specific groups of borrowers seeks to steer legal challenges while providing relief to millions of individuals burdened by student debt.
However, skepticism and criticism from state leaders like Sanders underscore the contentious nature of educational policy debates and the difficulties involved in addressing student loan debt and access to financial aid.
