Biden is trying again on student loan forgiveness. Here’s where the process stands

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden is making another attempt at student loan cancellation after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that his administration couldn’t forgive $400 billion in student loan debt using a 2003 law called the HEROES Act.

The first of three hearings took place Tuesday, when more than a dozen people chosen by the Biden administration met to begin a process known as “negotiated rule-making” to try to bring cancellation to more borrowers under the authority of the Higher Education Act. We don’t know yet who would be eligible for forgiveness or how much relief they would get.

The legal process now underway, which includes negotiators from outside the government meeting virtually for three two-day sessions, will last until mid-December.

Meanwhile, federal student loan borrowers began making payments again this month after a three-year-plus pause due to the pandemic. Here’s what you need to know:

WHAT IS NEGOTIATED RULE-MAKING?

The Education Department regularly uses negotiated rulemaking, and it’s required for any laws related to student aid. The process is designed to gather input from people outside of the federal government who represent a range of viewpoints on student loans.