Democratic presidential contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday that she would begin to forgive student loan debt on the first day of her administration, using legal tools that would allow her to bypass Congress. The announcement, which comes just weeks before voting begins in the first primary and caucus states, adds urgency to legislation she introduced over the summer to cancel the bulk of the nation’s outstanding student loan debt.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has added details to her far-reaching plan to forgive college student debt and called for an investigation of racial disparities in how much students borrow. The update outlines how she would implement her campaign proposal to cancel up to $50,000 in debt for 42 million people. Her proposed wealth tax on the 75,000 richest families, the campaign has said, would cover the cost.

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren says she'd order her secretary of education to cancel up to $50,000 in college debt for about 95% of student borrowers on her first day in office, effectively erasing outstanding loans for about 42 million Americans.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren will start to cancel student loan debt from the first day she takes office if she's elected president, she said Tuesday, arguing that existing law would give her administration the power to wipe out student debt — without the need to pass a broad loan forgiveness bill in Congress.

Elizabeth Warren said on Tuesday that, if elected president, on day one in office she would direct the Department of Education to begin canceling the bulk of America’s student debt without waiting for legislation from Congress, a dramatic promise that could thrust loan forgiveness into the center of the Democratic primary’s policy debates.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that she would take executive action to cancel most student loans, vowing to sidestep Congress to accomplish a progressive goal that faces stiff opposition from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats.