The Senate has voted to overturn President Biden’s student loan relief program, which aimed to provide relief to millions of Americans struggling under the burden of student debt. The move comes as a blow to the administration’s efforts to ease the financial strain of college graduates and is expected to impact millions of borrowers in the country.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s decision to vote with Republicans in favor of overturning the program has been met with criticism from many who see it as turning his back on student debtors. Manchin defended his decision, stating that the plan “forces hard-working taxpayers who already paid off their loans” to “shoulder the cost.”

The Biden administration had announced the plan earlier this year, which extended the freeze on federal student loan payments until September 2021, and cancelled $10,000 in debt for borrowers who were in default or delinquent on their loans. The program aimed to provide much-needed relief to those struggling financially following the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic downturn.

However, Republican lawmakers criticized the move, stating that it would lead to increased government spending and would unfairly benefit those who had taken out loans and failed to pay them back.

The repeal of the program has been met with backlash from student loan advocates and borrowers, who argue that the move will only exacerbate the already overwhelming issue of student debt in the country. With many struggling to find jobs and make ends meet, canceling student debt has become a crucial issue for many Americans.

The Senate’s decision to overturn Biden’s student debt relief program has left many questioning the United States’ priorities, with the widespread financial challenges faced by millions in the country left unresolved.