Supreme Court

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Supreme Court to hear student debt forgiveness case involving Nebraska, Iowa AGs
One of two suits will go before the high court Tuesday morning.



Six months ago, President Biden announced an unprecedented plan: forgiving all or a portion of student loan debt for 43 million eligible borrowers. Whether or not he has the authority to do so comes before the Supreme Court Tuesday. An estimated 370,000 Nebraskans and 660,000 Iowans stand to receive $10-20,000 in student loan forgiveness -- if the Supreme Court agrees Biden has the authority to grant that relief. Nebraska is in the name of the case before one of two cases to be heard by the Supreme Court first thing Tuesday morning -- Joe Biden v. Nebraska, et al. While Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers declined to comment today, a spokesperson said it’s exciting to be at the center of this fight at the Supreme Court, along with Iowa’s attorney general, Brenna Bird.

Attorneys general for six states are taking that fight to the opposition in a rainy nation’s capitol. The high court has set aside two hours for arguments, but it’s expected to go longer. As for a decision or outcome, the Georgetown Law Center’s Frederick Lawrence says it’s murky. “There’s nothing oblique here,” Lawrence said. “This is clear language in a statute that says you can cancel debt in connection with a national emergency. I think the administration is going to argue that’s precisely what they’re doing. There are actually two suits: one by the states, another by two students -- both saying the President doesn’t have the right.