US supreme court rules against Biden’s student loan relief program

A sign calling for student loan debt relief is seen in front of the supreme court. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

The supreme court has ruled against the Biden administration’s $430bn student debt forgiveness plan in a blow to up to 40 million borrowers in the US.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative-leaning supermajority of justices ruled that the 2003 Heroes Act, passed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, does not authorize Biden’s debt forgiveness plan.