This law permits the government to grant relief to student loan recipients during a national emergency, striving to prevent these individuals from ending up in “a worse financial position” as a result of the crisis.
However, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the wording of the HEROES Act was too ambiguous.
In his opinion, Roberts said the court’s precedent “requires that Congress speak clearly before a department secretary can unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.”
National Sentiment Towards Student Loan Forgiveness
Public polling data has shown that the majority of Americans support the cancellation of up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt, albeit with stark divisions along party lines and age groups.
A May poll by Marquette Law School revealed 63% of Americans favored student loan forgiveness, with particularly strong support among those under 60 years old.
These numbers provide a glimpse into the complexities surrounding the student loan relief plan.
Simultaneously, they underscore the pressing need for an alternative solution that could legally withstand potential challenges.
Student Loan Relief Plan :The Role of Congress and the Legal Path Forward
Opponents of the plan argued that it violated the Constitution and federal law by circumventing Congress, the body they believe holds the sole authority to legislate on matters of student loan forgiveness.
