(Fwrd Axis) — Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday denied a request by a group in Wisconsin attempting to block President Joe Biden’s federal student loan forgiveness program.
Barrett rejected a request from the Brown County Taxpayers Association to block the program just days after the Biden administration opened applications to borrowers to have as much as $20,000 in student debt canceled.
Rick Esenberg, a lawyer representing the group, released a statement expressing his disappointment in the ruling but hoped future challenges would succeed.
“We are well aware of the standing challenges that exist to stopping a clearly unconstitutional order. Our case took one approach to meeting that challenge,” Esenberg said. “Others will adopt different arguments and our hope is that one will succeed so that the American people can have the legality of this program reviewed by the courts.”
Last month, the Congressional Budget Office projected Biden’s plan would cost $400 billion while the Education Department said the price would be closer to $379 billion.
Overall, Biden’s student debt relief program would provide up to $10,000 in debt relief for borrowers earning less than $125,000 a year and couples who file taxes jointly and earn less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, the administration says, would be eligible for an additional $10,000 in debt relief.
