Biden admin asks SCOTUS to lift ruling blocking student loan relief plan

Driving the news: In the filing, the administration argued that "Congress specifically authorized the Secretary to waive or modify any applicable statutory or regulatory provision ... to ensure that borrowers affected by a national emergency are not worse off in relation to their student loans."

• Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit issued a nationwide emergency motion temporarily blocking the debt relief program.
• The court had also temporarily blocked the program last month in a lawsuit brought on by six Republican states — one of several legal challenges against the plan.

Context: The Biden administration warned in another court filing this week of "an historically large increase" in federal student loan delinquency and defaults without the plan.

• If the program took effect, it would cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for individual borrowers who make under $125,000 per year.
• President Biden has previously said more than 40 million Americans could benefit from the relief.

Of note: The Department of Education removed the debt relief application from its website last week.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.