Trump’s DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Halt Student Debt Relief and Environmental Cases: What It Means for You

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey recently appeared on ‘The Bottom Line’ to share his thoughts on President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and Harrison Butker’s commencement speech.

In a notable development, the Justice Department under former President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause several ongoing cases, including one that challenges Biden’s student loan relief efforts. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris filed motions stating that the court should halt proceedings as the new administration reviews Biden’s policies.

The Supreme Court was set to hear these cases soon, but Trump’s DOJ has requested a freeze on all deadlines related to written briefs, effectively putting everything on hold.

Under Biden, over 5 million Americans received student debt cancellation through actions from the Department of Education. However, these actions sparked legal battles. Critics argued that Biden overstepped his authority by not involving Congress.

For example, the 5th Circuit Court blocked Biden’s borrower defense rule, which aimed to assist borrowers defrauded by their educational institutions. The court raised concerns about the legality of Biden’s approach, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case earlier this month.

Currently, that case sits on hold, and it’s possible that the Trump administration could withdraw the regulation, which may end the dispute altogether.

The request for a freeze also includes three environmental cases related to regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency established during Biden’s term.

A shift in position on legal matters when a new president comes in is not unusual. For instance, after Biden’s inauguration, his DOJ sought to freeze a challenge regarding Trump’s diversion of military funds for building a border wall. Following Biden’s suspension of that funding, the Supreme Court dismissed the case.

Similarly, the administration reversed its stance on Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, leading the Supreme Court to declare that case moot after the policy was rescinded. This pattern shows how fluid legal issues can be when administrations change.

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