We warning the American people this would happen.
President Biden faced questioning from Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on Friday regarding his executive order on student loan debt, which was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court. The court ruled in a 6-3 decision that Biden’s secretary of education did not have the authority to cancel over $430 billion in student loan debt. Heinrich pressed Biden on why he gave Americans “false hope” with his order, citing his previous doubts about his own authority to enact such a measure without Congress.
According to Fox, in response, Biden firmly denied providing false hope, stating that he believed his actions were appropriate and achievable. He shifted the blame to Republicans, claiming they snatched away the hope that was given. Biden had previously expressed uncertainty about his ability to implement student loan debt relief through executive action, stating in February 2021 that he did not think he had the authority to do so.
The Supreme Court’s ruling aligned with Biden’s initial doubts, as Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the HEROES Act, which included the loan cancellation plan, did not authorize the secretary’s actions. The ruling also referenced former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had clarified that the President does not possess the power for debt forgiveness.
The executive order, known as the HEROES Act, aimed to provide debt relief of up to $10,000, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, to individuals earning less than $125,000 per year. Biden pushed for this debt cancellation in August 2022, facing opposition from Republicans who argued that he lacked the authority to unilaterally forgive student loans. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of Biden’s plan to be around $400 billion, prompting Republican outrage over fairness and taxpayer burden.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Biden expressed determination to continue fighting for student loan debt relief.