Conservative Supreme Court Justices Question Legal Authority of Biden Administration to Forgive Student Loans

Conservative Supreme Court Justices Question Legal Authority of Biden Administration to Forgive Student Loans
Chief Justice John Roberts (R) with Justice Clarence Thomas (L) while sitting for the High Court's official portrait in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Matthew Vadum
Matthew Vadum
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During oral arguments on Feb. 28, conservative members of the Supreme Court seemed skeptical of Biden administration statements that the government’s plan to partially forgive student loans is authorized by federal law.

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the High Court that the federal Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act gives the federal secretary of education blanket authority to grant loan forgiveness en masse, a contention several justices found fault with.