Here’s a timeline summarizing the political landscape surrounding Biden’s student debt relief program and the republicans trying to stop it if you’re the kind of person that doesn’t have time to actually read articles but still wants to kind of stay up-to-date on what’s going on.
Six Republican-led States
September 29, 2022: Plaintiffs filed the case
Six Republican-led states (Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina) filed a federal lawsuit to block the student loan forgiveness program on the grounds that there isn’t a statute that permits President Biden to do this and that it’s “economically unwise and inherently unfair.”
- The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division. State of Nebraska, State of Missouri, State of Arkansas, State of Iowa, State of Kansas, and State of South Carolina v. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Miguel Cardona, and United States Department of Education. (Sept. 29, 2022). Docket №: 4:22-cv-01040
- “Six States File a Challenge to the Biden Administration’s Student Loan Cancellation Program” (Sept. 29, 2022). Nebraska Attorney General.
- Katie Lobosco, “Biden administration scales back student loan forgiveness plan as states sue” (Sept. 30, 2022). CNN.
October 21, 2022: Judges dismissed the case
US District Judge Henry Edward Autrey dismissed a Republican-led lawsuit by six states that challenged the loan-forgiveness program. Judge Autrey concluded that the states do not have the legal right to sue the federal government over how it uses taxpayer funds.
- Katie Lobosco and Tierney Sneed, “Judge dismisses GOP states’ challenge to Biden student debt relief program” (Oct. 21, 2022). CNN.
October 22, 2022: Plaintiffs file for appeal
The six states appealed Judge Autrey’s decision, sending the case to the conservative panel of judges on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where they granted an emergency stay to temporarily block student loan forgiveness. This move only prevents the federal government from discharging relief. Eligible borrowers are still encouraged to apply for student debt relief and the federal government can review those applications and prepare them for relief.
- Eric Beech and Steve Gorman, “U.S. appeals court temporarily blocks Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan” (Oct. 22, 2022). Reuters.
- Andrew Restuccia and Jacob Gershman, “Biden’s Student-Loan Forgiveness Program Temporarily Halted by Appeals Court“, (Oct. 21, 2022). The Wall Street Journal.
November 14: Judge grants the appeal
A unanimous three-judge panel (made up of two Trump-appointed judges and one appointee of former President George W. Bush) on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled in favor of the six conservative-led states, granting a preliminary injunction against President Biden’s student loan relief plan.
- Gabriel T. Rubin and Jacob Gershman, “Appeals Court Blocks Biden’s Student-Loan Forgiveness Program” (Nov. 14, 2022). The Wall Street Journal.
November 18: DOJ asks Supreme Court to lift the appeal
Now that there’s been a decision of sorts in this case, the U.S. Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to allow the plan to go through.
- Andrew Chung, “DOJ Appeals to Supreme Court to Greenlight Student Loan Forgiveness Plan” (Nov. 18, 2022). Reuters.
- Stacy Cowley and Glenn Thrush, “Justice Department Asks Supreme Court to Let Student Debt Cancellation Proceed” (Nov. 18, 2022). The New York Times.
Conservative Wisconsin Taxpayers Group
October 19, 2022: Plaintiffs filed their complaint
On the day that the student loan forgiveness application official launched, a Wisconsin taxpayers group called the Brown County Taxpayers Association filed a request to the Supreme Court to block the student loan forgiveness program on the grounds that the president does not have the legal authority to implement the program.
- Katie Lobosco, “Wisconsin group asks Supreme Court to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan” (Oct. 19, 2022). CNN.
October 21, 2022: Judge dismissed the case
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett dismissed the challenge brought up by the Wisconsin taxpayers group. Justice Barrett’s rejection did not cite a reason, simply that she declined to refer the matter to the full court.
- Ariane de Vogue and Katie Lobosco, “Supreme Court delivers one of two legal wins for Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan” (Oct. 21, 2022). CNN.
Two Conservative Individuals
November 10, 2022: Federal Judge ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs
Federal Judge Mark Pittman of the Northern District of Texas, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, ruled against President Biden’s debt forgiveness plan in a case brought by Myra Brown and Alexander Taylor, two conservatives with student loan debt. Brown was ineligible because their loans are commercially held while Taylor was only eligible for $10k instead of $20k due to not being a Pell Grant recipient. Their grievance was not with the idea of student loan forgiveness, but are suing on the grounds of not having been provided opportunity to disagree with the program’s notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and that President Biden doesn’t have the authority to do it. The judge agreed with the latter, using that as their reason for ruling in the Plaintiffs’ favor.
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Fort Worth Division. Myra Brown, Et Al., v. U.S. Department of Education, Et Al. (Nov. 10, 2022). Docket №: 4:22-cv-0908-P
- Gabriel T. Ruben and Andrew Restuccia, “Federal Judge in Texas Strikes Down Biden Student-Loan Forgiveness Program” (Nov. 10, 2022). The Wall Street Journal.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .
