(DailyAnswer.org) – A federal judge has reinstated President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive billions in student loans, just in time for the upcoming election. The plan had previously been blocked by a temporary restraining order due to a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general from seven states, including Florida, Georgia, and Ohio. The lawsuit claimed the Biden administration was acting beyond its constitutional powers by pushing through this plan.
Critics of Biden’s student loan forgiveness argue that it’s less about helping people and more about buying votes by shifting the cost of student debt to taxpayers. Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas was quick to voice his frustration, taking to social media to call it a “student loan transfer” rather than forgiveness. Crenshaw argued that this isn’t really debt relief—it’s just moving the burden onto everyday taxpayers, who won’t benefit from the higher education these loans were used for. He went so far as to call it one of the most unethical and illegal schemes to win votes in recent memory.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Randal Hall ruled that the lawsuit didn’t have proper standing to block the president’s plan. Hall stated that the plaintiffs didn’t provide enough legal grounds to justify stopping the program. However, the lawsuit has now been transferred to Missouri, where Biden’s plan might still face significant legal challenges. In Missouri, a loan servicing company could be directly harmed by the program, giving the lawsuit new traction in court.
Despite these legal battles, the Biden administration is pushing forward. The U.S. Department of Education released a statement saying that Republican officials are trying to block millions of Americans from getting much-needed relief on their student loans. A spokesperson for the department said they would continue fighting to fix the broken student loan system and provide support to borrowers across the country.
While Democrats are celebrating the judge’s ruling, not everyone is convinced it’s a major victory. Some, including the news outlet Axios, have called it a “small win,” pointing out that the Missouri court could still halt the program before it is implemented. Judge Randal Hall, who issued the ruling, was appointed by President George W. Bush.
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