Supreme Court

The court will hear arguments in February on whether the Biden administration is legally able to forgive federal student loans. An injunction blocking the debt relief will remain in place.

The extension, through June 30, gives the Supreme Court the opportunity to weigh in on the administration’s debt-relief plan during its current term.

Debt-relief advocates decry the ruling as “politically motivated” and “a miscarriage of justice” and ask the administration to extend the pause on student loan payments. (Update: U.S. appeals court imposes preliminary injunction.)

Nearly 22 million borrowers applied for loan forgiveness in the week since the application opened.

The Biden administration is contending with four lawsuits while preparing for the rollout of its ambitious debt-relief program.

In another development, six states sue the Biden administration over the loan-forgiveness plan.