Supreme Court strikes down Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan: NYSBA responds

June 30, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

NYSBA President Richard Lewis calls for significant action to make higher education more affordable for average students in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down student loan forgiveness. Photo courtesy of the NYSBA.

Share this:

In a decision that has sent ripples through the nation, the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt.

The court ruled that the administration overstepped its power, dealing a severe blow to millions of American families hoping for financial relief. The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has since responded, calling for significant action to make higher education more affordable for average students.

Richard Lewis, president of the NYSBA, released a statement acknowledging the court’s decision while recognizing the intent behind the President’s proposal.

“We also respect the president’s intentions in attempting to confront the spiraling cost of education,” Lewis said. “The nation’s young people are struggling to shoulder historic levels of debt that make it impossible for many of them to buy homes and start families.”

The Supreme Court’s decision is deemed to have a significant impact on people of color, who are more likely to hold a disproportionate amount of student loan debt. This point resonated with the NYSBA, which stressed the need to make higher education more accessible to underrepresented communities.

“Policymakers and lawmakers as well as educational institutions must take steps to bring the costs of higher education within reach of the average student,” Lewis said. “This is important for all students in all professions but it’s even more crucial that we help students from lower socio-economic brackets – who are seriously underrepresented in the legal profession – become lawyers.”

The Supreme Court’s decision represents a significant loss for students and families who were counting on the relief. President Biden’s proposal would have forgiven up to $20,000 for some borrowers, and its defeat has left the White House searching for a Plan B.

The ruling is also a political defeat for Biden, who now loses an opportunity to deliver on a key campaign promise. Student debt relief had emerged as a central issue in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, and progressive groups were leaning on Biden even before the Supreme Court handed down its decision.

Despite the setback, a White House official stated that the President is “not done fighting yet” and promised new actions to protect student loan borrowers.