November 10, 2022
A federal judge in Texas has joined the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down the federal student loan forgiveness
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a borrower who does not qualify for the full $20,000 of debt forgiveness and another who is ineligible altogether. The lawsuit claims the Biden Administration violated federal procedures by denying borrowers the ability to give public comments before unveiling the program.
The judge in his ruling said, “in this country we are not ruled by an all-powerful executive with a pen and a phone”. Not that it matters, but I know you’re going to ask me, so yes, that judge was appointed by former President Trump.
So what does this mean, at this point, nothing because the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals already blocked the program nationwide while that panel decides whether the 6 Republican led states who sued have standing to bring the case in the first place. Those states claim President Biden cannot create this program without Congress’s approval.
There is no timeline for when the 8th circuit is going to rule on this. As for today’s ruling, the Administration hasn’t commented, but it is very likely the Department of Justice will appeal this ruling.
Read Judge Mark T. Pittman’s ruling here.
