The Biden Administration quietly changed the stipulations outlined in the recently released loan forgiveness plan, leaving nearly 800,000 borrowers ineligible for relief. According to the previous information released by the Department of Education, borrowers who received loans through either the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) or Perkins loan program would not receive automatic cancellation.

Instead, the Department of Education advised that borrowers consolidate into the Direct Loan program to be eligible. With the new changes, the website now reads, “As of Sept. 29, 2022, borrowers with federal student loans not held by ED cannot obtain one-time debt relief by consolidating those loans into Direct Loans.”

Borrowers will only be eligible for the relief if they applied for consolidation before Sept. 29. 

A NEW JUSTICE

The Supreme Court welcomed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female justice, to the bench on Oct. 3 when their new term began. Sessions are open to the public through live audio and selected access into the courtroom. As of right now, the court is built up of six Republican justices and three Democratic justices. It is expected that the court will discuss cases involving the Thirteenth Amendment, the death penalty and criminal procedures, among others. 

CUBA REQUESTS AID

With Hurricane Ian leaving behind disaster in Cuba, the country has made a rare request that the U.S. help by sending aid to the island. The power was cut as a result of the hurricane, leaving the entire island — nearly 11 million people — without electricity. Priority will be given to providing hospitals, plumbing and sanitation if the U.S. were to provide aid. Currently, Washington has yet to respond to the request. Years of tension have played a role in the hesitation. 

RUNOFF ELECTIONS

Brazil has now gone into a runoff vote after the results for their 2022 presidential election were close. President Jair Bolsonaro received 43.3% of the vote while his opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gained the advantage at 48.4% of the vote. There will be a second election held on Oct. 30 since the top candidate needs to win the majority vote.