In a 6-3 ruling that will affect tens of millions of Americans, the Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, which would have provided up to $20,000 in debt relief to Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 to non-Pell Grant recipients.
The court divided its decisions into two based on the two challenges against the student loan forgiveness plan. In the case, Department of Education v. Brown, the court sided with the Department of Education, stating that the plaintiffs don’t have standing.
The court ruled 6-3 in favor of Missouri against Biden’s student debt relief plan, which they say was an “unlawful” use of the president’s power as the plan had not been explicitly approved by Congress.
The ruling is separate from a three-year pause on student loan payments that was already scheduled to end on June 30 after Biden agreed not to extend the pause in a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the debt ceiling.