A trio of GOP-run states filed an emergency petition Monday to the Supreme Court to stop President Biden’s income-based student loan repayment program, Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE).
South Carolina, Texas and Alaska asked the court to halt the plan after the 10th Circuit allowed the administration to initiate a significant portion of it.
The SAVE plan is set to reduce monthly student loan payments from 10% of discretionary income to 5% this month. It would also begin offering student loan forgiveness to certain groups of borrowers.
The 10th Circuit halted loan forgiveness but said the lower monthly payments could continue, leaving states to appeal to the Supreme Court, which last year struck down Biden’s previous attempt at universal debt relief.
By default, Monday’s motion was sent to Judge Neil Gorsuch, who handles emergency appeals arising from the 10th Circuit.
But Gorsuch could refer the matter to his colleagues for a vote. And although the Supreme Court is on summer break, justices are still acting on emergency orders.
The case has thrown student loan borrowers into another round of uncertainty as Republicans continue to fight Biden’s efforts to forgive student loans.
The Biden administration has taken steps to impose forbearance on borrowers as the legal challenge plays out in court.
“While we are frustrated by the continued legal challenges brought to limit relief to borrowers, we are pleased to see the Department of Education take swift and decisive action, placing 3 million borrowers into administrative forbearance,” said Natalia Abrams, president of Student Debt Crisis Center.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story