The Job Creators Network Foundation filed a lawsuit in October on behalf of a student loan borrower who does not qualify for the full $20,000 in debt relief and one who is ineligible altogether. The suit alleges the administration violated federal procedures by denying borrowers the opportunity to provide public comment before unveiling the program.
U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman, who was appointed by Donald Trump, declared the policy unlawful in the Thursday order.
“In this country, we are not ruled by an all-powerful executive with a pen and a phone,” Pittman wrote in his order. “Instead, we are ruled by a Constitution that provides for three distinct and independent branches of government.”
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said of the administration: “We strongly disagree with the District Court’s ruling on our student debt relief program and the Department of Justice has filed an appeal.”
More than 26 million people have applied for loan relief. Jean-Pierre said the administration will hold onto their information “so it can quickly process their relief once we prevail in court.”
