Is Biden’s Executive Action Overstepping Its Bounds?

Why Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan Was Blocked: A Constitutional Perspective

Examining the Legal Grounds and Political Ramifications Behind the Appeals Court Ruling

Recently, a US appeals court blocked President Biden’s student debt relief plan in a legal and political turn of events. Within the political context of the United States, one can argue this ruling based on its unconstitutionality on several grounds.

Violation of the Separation of Powers

The US Constitution clearly outlines distinct powers for each branch of government. In the current case, critics argue that Biden’s student debt relief plan oversteps the executive branch’s authority by unilaterally legislating a significant fiscal policy without the approval of Congress. The Constitution merely grants Congress the power of the purse. This means that any significant expenditure, including student debt relief, should be legislated by Congress, not executed through executive action.

Breach of the Non-Delegation Doctrine

The non-delegation doctrine prevents Congress from delegating its legislative powers to the executive branch. By leveraging a 2003 law intended to furnish student loan relief for military members in the wake of 9/11 (the HEROES Act), the Biden administration is seen as stretching the interpretation of the latter legislation to cover broad, peacetime student debt relief. This sleek movement by the administration must have been represented beyond the original intent of Congress.

Lack of Clear Congressional Authorization

Some have already criticized the legitimacy and clarity of the original Congregational authorization plan and denounced it for lacking precise congressional authorization. Although the HEROES Act grants the Secretary of Education the power to “waive or modify” student financial assistance during a national emergency, opponents assert that it never intended to extend to broad, peacetime debt cancellation clearly. Thus, Biden’s relief plan may be seen as an overreach of executive power…