Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

New York Times under fire for including ‘death’ on list of six ways to cancel student debt

‘This is not something that most people would choose as a solution to their debt burden,’ the Times noted

Bevan Hurley
Friday 30 June 2023 22:06 BST
Comments
Biden says Supreme Court 'misinterpreted the constitution' on student loan debt ruling

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

The New York Times has been roasted on social media for listing “death” as a means to escape crippling student loans, after the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s plan to cancel debt for millions of Americans.

In an article soon after the Supreme Court’s ruling was released on Friday, the Times explained six ways “to get your student debt wiped away”.

The suggestions included making an income-driven repayment, appealing for public service loan forgiveness, and bankruptcy and disability discharges.

Under a subhead “death”, the Times wrote: “This is not something that most people would choose as a solution to their debt burden”.

It went on to explain that federal student loan debt “dies with the person or people who take it on”.

The macabre phrasing drew a swift backlash on social media.

“That's a little dark, NYT,” writer Parker Molloy tweeted.

“We’ve reached the point where The New York Times is suggesting death as a viable solution to crushing student debt,” wrote former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.

‘Death’ is one way out of crippling student loan repayments, the New York Times says
‘Death’ is one way out of crippling student loan repayments, the New York Times says (NYT / Screengrab)

“I’ll try it out and tell u guys how it went,” another posted.

The article was later revised, with the “death” subhead being changed to “debt won’t carry on”.

The Times did not respond to a request for comment by The Independent.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority in implementing a sweeping $400bn student debt relief plan.

The New York Times has raised eyebrows after it list ‘death’ as one way of getting out of student loan repayments
The New York Times has raised eyebrows after it list ‘death’ as one way of getting out of student loan repayments (AP)

The decision means an estimated 43 million Americans will be back on the hook for student loan repayments later this year.

In a press conference on Friday, President Joe Biden insisted the fight was not over, and promised a “new path” for relief that would be legally sound.

He has tasked Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona with coming up with a new forgiveness plan that was consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in