June 30, 2023
Round-up: Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Supreme Court today struck down President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt for eligible Americans in a 6-3 decision in the case Biden, President of the United States, Et Al. v. Nebraska Et Al.
The court sided with six Republican attorneys general who argued that the administration did not have the authority to forgive federal student loans under the 2003 HEROES law. The attorneys from six states—Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina—alleged that the plan would harm state revenues and agencies that hold student loans.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority: “[t]he HEROES Act allows the Secretary to ‘waive or modify’ existing statutory or regulatory provisions applicable to financial assistance programs under the Education Act but does not allow the Secretary to rewrite that statute to the extent of canceling $430 billion of student loan principal.”
In a related case, Department of Education Et Al. v. Brown, the justices ruled that the two Texas residents who challenged the debt-relief plan because they would not benefit from all the provisions and didn’t have the chance to comment on the proposal, did not have standing to bring their challenge, concurring with the Biden administration and other legal experts.
Regardless of the rulings, student loan repayments must restart by September 1, 2023, under the terms of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which formalized plans already underway by the Department of Education to restart payments at the end of the summer.
Below are links to the decision, the NAICU statement and a sampling of today’s media coverage:
The Supreme Court Decisions:
NAICU Statement: Supreme Court’s Decision to Strike Down President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan
Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s Debt-Relief Plan
Inside Higher Ed (June 30, 2023)
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Student-Loan Cancellation for Millions of Borrowers
The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Rejects Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The New York Times (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden’s Student-Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Wall Street Journal (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Rejects Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Washington Post (June 30, 2023)
The Supreme Court Rejects Biden’s Plan to Wipe Away $400 Billion in Student Loan Debt
The Associated Press (June 30, 2023)
SCOTUS Strikes Down Biden Plan to Forgive Student Loan Debt
USA Today (June 30, 2023)
President Biden Promises to Strike Back After Supreme Court Kills Student Debt Forgiveness Plan
USA Today (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down President Joe Biden’s Plan To Clear $400 Billion In Student Loan Debt
Chicago Tribune (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden’s Plan to Forgive Millions in Student Loan Debt
Los Angeles Times (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Blocks Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
NPR.org (June 30, 2023)
The court sided with six Republican attorneys general who argued that the administration did not have the authority to forgive federal student loans under the 2003 HEROES law. The attorneys from six states—Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina—alleged that the plan would harm state revenues and agencies that hold student loans.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority: “[t]he HEROES Act allows the Secretary to ‘waive or modify’ existing statutory or regulatory provisions applicable to financial assistance programs under the Education Act but does not allow the Secretary to rewrite that statute to the extent of canceling $430 billion of student loan principal.”
In a related case, Department of Education Et Al. v. Brown, the justices ruled that the two Texas residents who challenged the debt-relief plan because they would not benefit from all the provisions and didn’t have the chance to comment on the proposal, did not have standing to bring their challenge, concurring with the Biden administration and other legal experts.
Regardless of the rulings, student loan repayments must restart by September 1, 2023, under the terms of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which formalized plans already underway by the Department of Education to restart payments at the end of the summer.
Below are links to the decision, the NAICU statement and a sampling of today’s media coverage:
The Supreme Court Decisions:
- Biden, President of the United States, Et Al. v. Nebraska Et Al.
- Department of Education Et Al. v. Brown
NAICU Statement: Supreme Court’s Decision to Strike Down President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan
Supreme Court Blocks Biden’s Debt-Relief Plan
Inside Higher Ed (June 30, 2023)
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Student-Loan Cancellation for Millions of Borrowers
The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Rejects Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The New York Times (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden’s Student-Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Wall Street Journal (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Rejects Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
The Washington Post (June 30, 2023)
The Supreme Court Rejects Biden’s Plan to Wipe Away $400 Billion in Student Loan Debt
The Associated Press (June 30, 2023)
SCOTUS Strikes Down Biden Plan to Forgive Student Loan Debt
USA Today (June 30, 2023)
President Biden Promises to Strike Back After Supreme Court Kills Student Debt Forgiveness Plan
USA Today (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down President Joe Biden’s Plan To Clear $400 Billion In Student Loan Debt
Chicago Tribune (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden’s Plan to Forgive Millions in Student Loan Debt
Los Angeles Times (June 30, 2023)
Supreme Court Blocks Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
NPR.org (June 30, 2023)