The Biden ad­min­is­tra­tion’s stu­dent-debt for­give­ness plan was struck down by a federal judge in Texas on Thursday.  The plan would have can­celed up to $20,000 in stu­dent loan debt per borrower who received a Pell Grant. Some 26 million borrowers have already applied for the program with 16 million applications already approved.
 
In a 26-page opinion, Judge Mark Pittman of the North­ern Dis­trict of Texas wrote the Biden plan is an “un­con­sti­tu­tional ex­er­cise of Con­gress’s leg­isla­tive power” that also failed to go through nor­mal reg­u­la­tory pro­cesses.  The judge also rejected the Biden administration’s argument that based the authority to cancel student loans on a 2003 law, known as the HEROES Act, which grants special powers to the Education Department during national emergencies.
 
The student debt relief plan was already frozen under a temporary order from a federal appeals court in a separate case.
 
Observers believe the latest decision goes much further in permanently prohibiting the Education Department from carrying out the entire program.
 
The Biden administration moved swiftly on Thursday evening to file an appeal.
 
Below is a sample of national media coverage of the develoments:
 
Federal Judge in Texas Strikes Down Biden Student-Loan Forgiveness Program
The Wall Street Journal (November 11, 2022)
 
Federal Judge in Texas Strikes Down Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Washington Post (November 11, 2022)
 
Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Is on Ice. Here’s What You Should Know.
The Washington Post (November 11, 2022)
 
US Judge in Texas Strikes Down Biden Loan-Forgiveness Plan
Associated Press (November 11, 2022)
 
Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Student Debt Relief Program
Politico (November 11, 2022)
 
US Judge in Texas Blocks President Biden's Student Debt Forgiveness Plan; Appeal Filed
USA Today (November 11, 2022)
 
A Federal Judge Calls Student Loan Relief Unlawful, Deepening Limbo for Borrowers
NPR.com (November 11, 2022)