The implementation of President Joe Biden's new student loan repayment plan, known as the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, has been temporarily halted by federal judges in Kansas and Missouri. These rulings have put debt relief for millions of Americans at risk.
The injunctions prevent the U.S. Department of Education from implementing significant provisions of the SAVE plan. As a result, the Biden administration is currently unable to forgive additional debt under the new income-driven repayment plan or reduce borrowers' payments as expected in July.
Since its launch in August, more than 8 million borrowers have signed up for the SAVE plan. They were just days away from seeing a substantial decrease in their monthly bills.
College expert Mark Kantrowitz expressed his disappointment on the part of borrowers, saying they would be disappointed if financial support was taken away from them at the last minute.
The preliminary injunctions stem from lawsuits filed earlier this year by Republican-led states seeking to overturn the Biden administration’s creation of what it said was the most affordable student loan repayment plan in U.S. history. Under the plan, many borrowers would have to pay just 5% of their discretionary income toward their debt each month, and those earning $32,800 or less would have a $0 monthly payment.
The states argued that the Biden administration was exceeding its authority and trying to find a roundabout way to forgive student debt after its broader plan was blocked by the Supreme Court last year.
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona vowed to keep fighting for the aid, pointing out that Republican elected officials and special interests have sued to block their constituents from benefiting from the plan. He mentioned that the Department of Education has relied several times over the past three decades on its authority under the Higher Education Act to implement income-based repayment plans.
It is important to note that these rulings do not impact the Biden administration's second attempt at broad student loan forgiveness, which is still ongoing. The previous relief package was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, prompting a revamp effort.
