Appeals court places temporary block on President Biden's student debt relief


A federal appeals court on Friday placed a temporary hold on President Biden's student debt forgiveness program while it considers an ongoing challenge to the initiative, throwing a wrench into one of the president's major agenda items.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals halted the Biden administration's move in response to an appeal from a coalition of six GOP-led states to temporarily block the implementation of the program. The GOP coalition, made up of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Iowa had appealed to the circuit court after their initial lawsuit against the Biden administration was dismissed, with CNN reporting the court did not feel the lawsuit met the threshold to continue.
Prior to the temporary hold, the student debt forgiveness program was slated to begin as early as Sunday, with eligible borrowers able to relieve up to $20,000 in debt, the U.S. Department of Education said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In response to the block, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre encouraged those who were eligible to apply for the relief, adding that the block does not prevent the Biden administration from reviewing relief applications. She also noted that the court's decision only placed a temporary pause on the program until the case had been argued.
President Biden lambasted Republicans who he claimed were trying to oppose student debt relief while at the same time applying for pandemic relief loans of their own. "Who the hell do they think they are?" Biden said during a speech in Delaware.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other cities
speed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore