From Bloomberg News reporters Justin Sink and Akayla Gardner:
President Joe Biden on Friday announced plans to cancel student debt for about 55,000 public sector workers, as his administration pushes to zero out balances for more people in the final weeks of his administration.
The move — which represents the cancellation of $4.28 billion owed on federal loans — pushes the total number of individuals who have received relief under Biden administration programs to nearly 5 million, the White House said. In total, about $180 billion has been forgiven.
I can only speak from across the pond, but that’s likely the strategy. It has no downsides for the current administration - but the incoming administration either has to cancel it and look like the shitheads (not that they seem to care about that), or run with it to save face, and try and find the budget for it.