Just days after the loan forgiveness application went live, six states — Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina — filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the relief. The six Republican states’ effort to block the relief was one of many attempts to block the relief funds — other opposers included the Pacific Legal Foundation, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and the Job Creators Network. 

“Republican members of Congress and Republican governors are doing everything they can to deny this relief even in their — to their own constituents,” said President Joe Biden in a speech at Delaware State University.

The pause in relief came from the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court, but the Biden administration continues to encourage borrowers to apply for the relief. 

“Tonight’s temporary order does not prevent borrowers from applying for student debt relief at studentaid.gov — and we encourage eligible borrowers to join the nearly 22 million Americans whose information the Department of Education already has,” said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a White House statement. 

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

The federal government will continue to accept and review applications along with preparing documents for loan companies. Until the court makes a decision about the lawsuits, the administration cannot make changes to loan totals. 

“They’ve been fighting us in the courts. But just yesterday, a state court and the Supreme Court said, ‘No, we’re on Biden’s side,’” Biden said on Oct. 21.  

The temporary pause can last days, but the court is expected to make a decision as early as next week. If the court does not reach a decision, the pause on the loan forgiveness process will extend.