Examining the Impact of Supreme Court's Student Loan Ruling on Debt Relief Plans

President Joe Biden's backup plan for delivering student debt relief, after the Supreme Court ruled against his initial plan, may face legal scrutiny for similar reasons. The Supreme Court's conservative justices rejected the argument that the word "waive" in the HEROES Act allowed wholesale debt relief, raising questions about whether a similarly sweeping program under the Higher Education Act would be supported. While supporters argue that the Higher Education Act provides clearer authority for debt forgiveness, critics point out that it has never been used in that way before. Biden could potentially pursue a narrower version of debt cancellation to try to win approval in court. The Supreme Court's skepticism of policies without explicit approval from Congress has been evident in recent cases, including the eviction moratorium and environmental regulations.