Attorney General Alan Wilson celebrates U.S. Supreme Court win in student loan decision

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson applauds the United States Supreme Court's decision in President Biden's unlawful student loan debt cancellation plan.

"I'm pleased the Court agrees with our position that Joe Biden does not have the authority to cancel and ignore debt. He knew Congress was the only body with the power to do so, but when they didn't do what he wanted, he took matters into his own hands to unlawfully deliver on a campaign promise," said Attorney General Alan Wilson. "Legal issues aside, forgiving student loans is a poor policy decision with unfair and long-lasting consequences. But when the federal government acts outside its powers to promote its own agenda, I'll be there to fight back."

The complaint argues the HEROES Act simply does not justify the Education Secretary’s sweeping creation of this discharge program. That Act was enacted shortly after the start of the Iraq War, primarily to ensure that active-duty military may pause their student-loan payments while serving our country. Every congressional finding supporting the Act focused on providing relief on a case-by-case basis to people serving in the “military” for “our nation’s defense.” Congress gave no hint when adopting the HEROES Act that it intended to eliminate student loans, let alone the massive amount of debt canceled through this program. And no administration has used it to erase student-loan debt. 

After hearing oral arguments in March, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling today, declaring Biden's attempt to cancel debt as unlawful.

Attorney General Wilson joined Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska in the suit.

You can read the full complaint here.

You can read the Supreme Court's opinion here.