President Joe Biden is “not sure” the Supreme Court will allow the student loan relief plan, he said Wednesday, a day after the court’s conservative majority appeared to support a challenge to the aid program.
The decision, expected in June, could result in more than 40 million eligible Americans seeking student loan forgiveness of up to $20,000.
“I believe we are on the right side of the law,” Biden told reporters outside the White House. “I’m not sure yet about the outcome of the decision.”
The conservative supermajority of the court seems prepared to scrap the plan, but there is a chance to survive if at least two conservatives return liberal justice on the question of standing – whether the plaintiff can prove the debt-relief program causes direct harm.
The two cases before the court have been brought by six GOP-led states – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina – and two student borrowers – Myra Brown and Alexander Taylor.
Biden introduced the plan in August. This allows borrowers to make up to $125,000 to get $10,000 in student loan relief. Pell Grant recipients will be eligible for up to $20,000.
The government authorized the program under the HEROES Act of 2003, which authorized the secretary of education to reduce loans in a national emergency, in this case COVID-19.
Asked if the administration had a plan B if the court rejected the relief, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied: “There’s a reason why we’re taking it to the Supreme Court: because we believe we have the legal authority.”
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona also defended the program.
“President Biden, Vice President [Kamala] Harris, and I know how important this relief is to tens of millions of Americans, and we are fighting to provide the necessary assistance to borrowers who are trying to get back on their feet after the economic crisis caused by the pandemic,” Cardona said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Biden urged Democrats to promote his administration’s achievements as he continues to consider a 2024 re-election campaign.
“If we do nothing but implement what we’ve done and let people know who’s doing it, we win,” Biden said at the Democratic Caucus Issues Conference in Baltimore. “But we’ve gone beyond that. We’re not just winning.”
Biden has previously said he plans to run, but has not officially announced his campaign.
First lady Jill Biden said she was “all for everything” when asked about Biden’s 2024 plans.
“It was Joe’s decision,” he told CNN. “And we support whatever they want. If they go in, we’re there. If they want to do something else, we’re there, too.”