United States’ President Joe Biden’s administration
has called upon the country’s Supreme Court to reinstate the government’s
student loan forgiveness plan. As of now, the plan remains blocked by a federal
appeals court. Elizabeth Prelogar, Solicitor General, urged justices to withdraw
the injunction imposed on the plan by the St. Louis-based 8th US
Circuit Court of Appeals, on Monday.

In Friday’s filing, the Solicitor General argued that
the circuit court’s decision “leaves millions of economically vulnerable
borrowers in limbo, uncertain about the size of their debt and unable to make
financial decisions with an accurate understanding of their future repayment
obligations.”

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The Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness
programme has come under attack from several individuals and groups. The
present case involves claims filed by six states – Nebraska, Missouri,
Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina.

While a federal judge has ruled that the states don’t have
legal standing, an appeals court focussed on a Missouri agency that claimed
that it would lose money on account of the programme. A legal standing means
the petitioner must show the court how the policy harms them. This has been one
of the major challenges before those arguing against the plan.

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has earlier
rejected two challenges to the plan, both of which arose from cases in which
lower courts said the challengers did not have legal standing to bring their
claims.

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Biden’s student loan forgiveness programme allows
eligible borrowers to cancel up to $20,000 of debt. The programme has been
stuck in the appeals court since last month and the administration has since
closed the application process. A different COVID-related presidential order
allows borrowers to not make payments at the moment.

Those challenging the plan say the student loan
forgiveness programme violates the US Constitution and federal law, partly
because it circumvents Congress, which they say has the power to institute laws
relating to student loan forgiveness.