In her commencement address at Mesa Community College, First Lady Jill Biden called for free community college education in America. She highlighted her own experience as an educator at a Virginia community college, emphasizing their flexibility and ability to meet people where they are. Biden praised Mesa Community College’s “Promise” program, which offers needs-based commitment to eligible students to attend the school without paying tuition or registration fees. She stated that community colleges should be free in America, aligning with her husband President Biden’s previous campaign platform to make community colleges and tech schools free. Despite resistance from Congress and the judicial system, President Biden’s administration continues to seek ways to expand access to free community college.
The Biden administration has faced backlash over its attempts to cancel student loan debt, with the Supreme Court ruling against Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s authority to cancel over $430 billion in student loan debt. President Biden received criticism for his response to the Supreme Court decision, with one critic noting that he was debunking the idea that “nobody is above the law,” while a Republican representative questioned the administration’s authority to continue pursuing debt forgiveness against the will of Congress and the courts. Despite these challenges, President Biden’s 2025 fiscal budget includes a request for $90 billion to expand access to free community college, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to this goal.
During a hearing before the House Education & Workforce Committee, Education Secretary Cardona faced tough questions from Republican members about the administration’s efforts to forgive student debt. Rep. Lisa McClain questioned the administration’s actions, pointing out that Congress, the Senate, and even the Supreme Court had rejected the administration’s plans for debt cancellation. McClain also raised concerns about the administration’s perceived disregard for the rule of law, asking Cardona what qualified him to ignore the decisions of Congress and the Supreme Court. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding the issue of student loan debt and the administration’s approach to addressing it.
President Biden’s 2020 campaign platform included a proposal to make community colleges and tech schools free, but the cost of the plan fell short of the more expansive education funding proposals put forth by progressive counterparts, such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, that were estimated to cost around $1 trillion. Despite facing resistance from multiple quarters, including Congress and the courts, President Biden’s administration remains committed to expanding access to free community college education. First Lady Jill Biden’s call for community colleges to be free in America reflects this ongoing commitment and the administration’s efforts to address the challenges faced by students burdened by student loan debt.
