Letter from the Attorney General October 13

Dear colleagues, 

I was thrilled at the news last week that President Biden canceled another $9 billion in student loan debt. 

Despite a disappointing Supreme Court decision last June, the federal Administration needs to keep doing all it can to provide necessary relief. Over the past few months, I am proud that our team has continued to support and prepare borrowers as payments resume, and we will continue to work with and call on the Biden Administration to enact further protections including addressing long hold times and delays in receiving assistance. 

Thank you to Arwen Thoman, Erica Harmon, and the entire Student Loan Assistance Unit for your leadership and hard work on these issues. If you have student loan debt concerns, I encourage you to reach out to our colleagues. 

I also want to emphasize the message I sent out to you all earlier this week. I will continue to call out the attack by Hamas as horrific, tragic and wrong. I have also been stressing that doing so does not mean we shouldn’t separately create space to talk about the deep conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians. As we all continue to witness the war in Israel and deep division, I continue to think about the Israeli and Palestinian children—and that, along with my faith, not only sustain my hope but give me the strength to keep pressing forward in our work while exemplifying understanding, love and compassionate leadership. I know many of you are experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. I want you all to know that our office and community is here to support you, and I encourage colleagues to take time to care for yourself and your family, and to, if appropriate, share and have conversations internally with colleagues about your perspective with the hopes of building and deepening understanding. 

Wishing you all a peaceful and restorative weekend, and with tremendous gratitude for all you do, 

Andrea