Obama-appointed judges temporarily block parts of Biden’s student debt relief

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on student debt forgiveness at the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, California, on February 21, 2024. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Federal judges appointed by Obama blocked parts of the Biden administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan on Monday in response to lawsuits from Republican states.

Judge John A. Ross of Missouri and Judge Daniel Crabtree of Kansas blocked parts of the government’s SAVE plan, an income-based repayment program designed to lower monthly costs for borrowers. The court rulings prohibit the Education Department from further reducing payments through the program or reducing further debt, Politico reported.

Ross ruled that the “defendants are preliminarily barred from providing any further debt relief to borrowers” until the case is fully reviewed by the court, and Crabtree temporarily blocked parts of the program that would further reduce monthly payments for some borrowers, according to court records. Ross’ order takes effect immediately, and the other on June 30, giving the administration time to appeal.

“We strongly disagree with the rulings by the Kansas and Missouri district courts that block components of the SAVE Plan that help student loan borrowers make affordable monthly payments and avoid default. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE Plan,” U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed the lawsuit in March, while Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed it in April. In both cases, the lawsuit was based on the view that the debt relief program is unconstitutional.

“The President cannot disregard the Constitution when it serves his political agenda. I am filing suit to stop his brazen attempt to curry favor with some citizens by forcing others to assume their debts. The Constitution will continue to matter as long as I am Attorney General,” Bailey said in a press release when the lawsuit was filed.

In June 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the administration’s plan to use executive power to forgive student loans for nearly 40 million Americans. President Joe Biden introduced the SAVE plan shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, which would cap student loan repayments from 10% to 5% of a borrower’s monthly income.

The attorneys general of Missouri and Kansas did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation