WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is no longer accepting applications for student loan forgiveness after a second federal court shut down the program.
“Courts have issued orders blocking our student debt relief program,” the Education Department said on its federal student aid website. “As a result, at this time, we are not accepting applications. We are seeking to overturn those orders.”
Fulfilling a campaign pledge, President Joe Biden announced in August plans to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for individuals with incomes below $125,000 or households earning less than $250,000. The White House has estimated that more than 40 million people could qualify.
Already, about 26 million people have applied, and 16 million applications have been approved. However, because of court rulings, none of the relief has actually gone out. The Department of Education would “quickly process their relief once we prevail in court,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Texas ruled Thursday that Biden had overstepped his authority in creating the debt relief program without congressional approval.
“In this country, we are not ruled by an all-powerful executive with a pen and a phone. Instead, we are ruled by a Constitution that provides for three distinct and independent branches of government,” Pittman wrote.
The administration has appealed that ruling.
Pittman’s ruling came after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stopped the program while it considers whether to impose a permanent ban. That case was brought by a half-dozen Republican-led states.
Student loan forgiveness is likely to end up before the Supreme Court.
People with student loan debt have not been required to make payments during the pandemic. But payments are set to resume, and interest will begin to accrue again, in January.
Biden has said the payment pause would not be extended again, but that was before the court rulings. It was not clear whether the pause might be continued while the legal challenges to the program play out.
As for loan forgiveness, the Education Department said on its website that it would hold on to the applications for those who have already applied.
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What makes this socialist Democrat sock-puppet fool Joe Biden to think that 85% of the taxpayers who never had the opportunity to go to college, should be forced to pay off the college student loan of someone making up to $250,000.00 per year??
This was a ploy to buy votes. Let it be a life lesson for the young people who sold out.
Rush Limbaugh,,,talent on loan from God, now paid back to God in full.
Joe Biden,,,,Incompetence on loan from Democrats, now paid back to them in ballots and in Bull.
Navy Rear Admiral Grace Hopper “It’s easier to ask forgiveness (later) than to get permission (up front).”
Joe Biden “ It’s easier to promise illegal loan forgiveness before the election, than get legal permission after the election, when won in beguiled votes based on known unconstitutional promises.
More examples of knowingly illegal Democrat promises to save us money, to be paid for with the life force of others. Most times they actually succeed in accomplishing the social redistribution first in truth, always followed later with our hard earned cash or votes, their very elections always paid for with other people’s money, and other people’s life force.
Fool me once shame on them, fool me twice shame on me, for being uninformed and knowing not what I am voting for.
AND You can bet, the millions possibly already PAID OUT, will NOT get clawed back…
Democrat voters are the biggest suckers alive: being promised free stuff by their party which, in turn, always delivers shoddy goods or even nothing at all. You’d think loyal Democrat voters would have finally wised up after getting repeatedly scammed for decades, but….nahhhhhh.
The destructive Democrat Party cult wins most of their followers because they believe their Lies and/or have low intellect. The Democrat Party’s propaganda or narrative works on an emotional level, not on the intellectual level. These fools never learn and are like rats following their Pied Piper to their destruction.
To quote Presidenr Reagan “I’m from the government and I am here to help” surely fits our current government. Could maybe add on the quote after “here to help with promising all for your vote but delivering nothing after the vote”
Welcome to the real world, “no free lunch” as they say and Dems found their suckers! I hope they enjoy paying their debts as the rest of us have been doing for years.
The election’s over and Dems bagged the naive youth vote so it’s no longer necessary for them to extend the BRIBE of “free” student loans.