Appeals court blocks Biden's student debt cancellation plan

Biden speaks as Miguel Cardona, US secretary of education, right, listens in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Biden said eight million borrowers applied for the student debt relief program during a beta test to receive up to $20,000 in debt cancellation and that the official website is up and available for use.
Biden speaks as Miguel Cardona, US secretary of education, right, listens in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Biden said eight million borrowers applied for the student debt relief program during a beta test to receive up to $20,000 in debt cancellation and that the official website is up and available for use. Photo credit Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

WASHINGTON (KNX) — A federal appeals court blocked President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel billions of dollars of student debt on Friday, siding with a Republican-led effort.

Agreeing with the six states challenging Biden’s authority to enact the debt-relief effort, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to halt the White House plan. The court said the student debt forgiveness plan should pause while the issue plays out in court, namely court proceedings requesting an injunction.

The decision came a day after Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected a Wisconsin challenge to the student debt-relief plan.

A federal district court judge had rejected the lawsuit brought by Republicans Thursday, a day before Friday’s appellate ruling.

Students who took out federal loans qualify for up to $20,000 in cancellations under the Biden plan.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images