James Campbell, a lawyer from the Nebraska Attorney General’s office, represented six states in a trial on October 12 to block the Biden administration’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 of federal student loan debt in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Campbell argued that the administration’s proposal would harm the investments and tax revenues of the states he was representing. He also argued the Department of Education did not have the authority under the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solution (HEROES) Act to forgive federal student loan debts.
Brian Netter, the lawyer representing the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that the HEROS Act was designed to allow the executive branch to provide relief related to the coronavirus pandemic. He said increased late debt payments among student loan borrowers justified the forgiveness plan under the law.
