A Wisconsin-based taxpayers’ group has requested the Supreme Court block President Joe Biden‘s student loan forgiveness program, which officially launched on Monday.
The filing comes from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association, asking that the debt forgiveness plan be suspended pending a lower federal court appeal. The lawsuit was previously dismissed by a federal judge who claimed the group lacked the legal standing to suspend the program.
“The assault on our separation of powers — and upon the principle that the spending power is vested solely in Congress — is extraordinary, and perhaps unprecedented,” the group wrote in the court filing. “We are witnessing a gargantuan increase in the national debt accomplished by a complete disregard for limitations on the constitutional spending authority.”
The case is being directed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who holds jurisdiction over emergency requests from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Biden’s loan forgiveness plan, a cornerstone of his campaign, has received a sharp rebuke from conservative leaders. A coalition of states which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina have already sued the Biden administration and the Department of Education. The Republican-led states cite concerns about the overstepping of federal authority and the relief plan’s effect on taxpayers.
The plan forgives up to $20,000 in student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for individuals whose annual income is below $125,000. Applicants are not required to provide their FSA ID or upload any additional documents. The application is available in both English and Spanish and will be available until Dec. 31, 2023.
Eight million borrowers have already applied for loan forgiveness and the Biden administration estimates the program could cancel debt for over 40 million people.
