WASHINGTON — According to a new report from the Department of Education, about 18 million scholars have obtained monetary assistance from President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 bailout program and other relief funds, helping millions stay enrolled during the pandemic.
The report, received via USA TODAY and expected to be made public Wednesday, comes as the Supreme Court will soon learn the long-term separate action by Biden seeking to cancel student loan debt for millions of students.
The $1. 9 trillion U. S. bailout, which Biden signed into law in March 2021, included $40 billion for schools and universities, a historic cash injection into the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF.
About 90% of the 5,000 schools and universities that won the most HEERF investments have exhausted their percentage by the end of 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Education.
The budget can only be used to cover any expenses similar to that of a student attending college, adding accommodation for food, intellectual fitness and childcare.
More: Biden to End COVID-19 Emergency Declarations on May 11 After More Than 3 Years
More: Could Biden’s student loan debt cancellation plan be affected by the end of the COVID emergency?
In 2021 alone, schools and universities awarded $19. 5 billion in emergency monetary grants to 12. 7 million students, according to the report. Approximately 80% of low-income Pell grant recipients received a grant.
First lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona are expected to officially find out Wednesday.
What’s happening now: COVID investment has traditionally helped Black schools get through the pandemic.
Those who have won emergency include:
Biden’s management said Monday that it plans to end the national COVID-19 emergency and public fitness emergency in May, restructuring how the federal government will respond to the pandemic as it enters its fourth year.
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