On March 29, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach spearheaded a coalition of 10 states in filing a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness initiatives. The lawsuit alleges that President Joe Biden is attempting to bypass both Congress and the Supreme Court.
Kansas has teamed up with several other states, including Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah, all of which are governed by the Republican Party, to file a lawsuit. The defendants in this case include the Education Department and its secretary, Miguel Cardona.
According to the Capital-Journal, Kobach criticized President Biden for disregarding the ruling of the United States Supreme Court and exerting authority beyond Congress. He emphasized that the American system operates as a constitutional republic, allowing the courts to invalidate any executive action that is deemed unlawful or unconstitutional.
“We are requesting the court to take action in this case, and we eagerly anticipate the presence of the president’s attorneys in court.”
According to Kobach, canceling the debts unfairly burdens those who didn’t attend college and current college students. This echoes a campaign promise made by Biden in 2020 to cancel student debt.
The White House is facing a lawsuit that accuses it of violating the Constitution’s separation of powers, exceeding its statutory authority, and implementing student loan forgiveness plans that are deemed “arbitrary and capricious” while also violating administrative procedures.
Kobach stated that they will also request the court for an injunction on Biden’s initiatives. This will allow borrowers to keep making payments on their loans while the lawsuit is being debated in court.
The White House has taken action to relieve the burden of student loan debt for predominantly small public service employee groups. This decision comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling last year that invalidated a broader student loan forgiveness program implemented under COVID-19 pandemic regulations.