Biden said the total number of Americans who have had their student debt cancelled by his administration was now over 5 million.

The 150,000 borrowers for whom student loan relief was approved included almost 85,000 borrowers who attended schools that “cheated and defrauded their students,” 61,000 borrowers with permanent disabilities, and 6,100 public service workers, Biden said in a statement.

Across 28 debt relief actions, including Monday’s, the Biden administration has announced US$183.6 billion in student loan forgiveness, the US education department said separately on Monday. Monday’s relief amounts to over US$4.2 billion, it added.

The Biden administration has faced legal hurdles from Republicans and courts in its plans for student debt relief, which was an important campaign promise by Biden when he ran for the White House in 2020.