The Supreme Court has decided that the Biden administration acted unlawfully when it claimed authority to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans for tens of millions of borrowers.
Student loan cancellation is for now a vain hope for advocates who sought to transfer the debts of college-educated Americans to those taxpaying Americans who already paid their debts, earned their scholarships, or succeeded without going to college.
The scheme would have canceled $10,000 in student-loan debt for each borrower earning less than $125,000, up to $20,000 for each borrower under the income cutoff if that borrower received a Pell grant, or less than $250,000 if the borrower files taxes as married or as head of household.
Lindsey Burke, director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, and I wrote in August 2022 that the plan suffered from several policy and legal infirmities. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Besides being unlawful, it was expensive, regressive, arbitrary, and fundamentally unjust, and it created a host of moral hazards including incentives for future tuition increases. The $600 billion in cancellation would have meant more than $2,000 in higher taxes per taxpayer.
Regarding the brazen unlawfulness of the scheme, the Supreme Court has pointed out that the U.S. Department of Education simply does not have the authority to cancel student debt on a massive scale using the authority it claimed to find in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. That’s what former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s general counsel, Reed Rubinstein, had already determined in January 2021.
But the current administration argued that the HEROES Act, which empowers the Secretary of Education to waive or amend student loan rules for affected parties due to emergencies such as a war or a natural disaster, so that they would not be worse off due to the emergency, could be extended to loan forgiveness across the entire country due to the pandemic emergency (which is now long past).
The Supreme Court disagreed.
“The major questions doctrine,” as the plaintiff in an early case not before the Court noted in September 2022, “requires a clear authorization by Congress of such an economically and politically significant action, which is lacking here. … Without a valid source of authority, the Secretary [of Education] ‘literally has no power to act’” (quoting a different case).
Congress did not put a massive loan bailout in the HEROES Act.
That September 2022 case never made it to the Supreme Court because as soon as it was filed, the Department of Education changed the parameters of the bailout scheme to prevent the plaintiff from having standing. It kept changing the rules to try to stay out of court.
But two cases survived. In one case, several states argued that they would uffer financial harm. That gave Missouri, for example, standing to sue. In the other case, in Texas, the plaintiffs got standing by claiming the public was not given a chance to comment on the cancellation scheme.
The Court decided that Missouri did have standing and that the Department of Education exceeded its authority.
Although that’s the end of student loan “forgiveness,” the Department of Education has hatched another student loan scheme that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Massive changes to income-based repayment will make college free for substantial numbers of borrowers by cutting in half their payment amounts, cutting in half their time to loan cancellation, and dramatically raising the amount of exempted income.
Will any plaintiffs have standing against this new scheme once the final regulations are released? Time will tell.
Article cross-posted from Daily Signal.
Three Reasons a Coffee Gift Set From This Christian Company Is Perfect for Christmas
When you’re searching for a Christmas gift that’s meaningful, useful, and rooted in faith, you don’t want to settle for anything generic. This season is filled with noise — mass-produced products, last-minute picks, and trends that fade as quickly as they appear. But one gift stands apart because it blends genuine quality with a message that matters: a coffee gift set from Promised Grounds Coffee.
This small Christian-owned company has become a favorite among believers who want to support faith-driven businesses while giving friends and family something they’ll actually enjoy. Here are three reasons a Promised Grounds Coffee gift set may be the most thoughtful and impactful present you give this year.
1. It’s Truly Delicious Coffee
Too many “gift-worthy” coffees look beautiful in the package but disappoint when the cup is poured. Promised Grounds takes the opposite approach — exceptional taste first, thoughtful presentation second.
Their beans are sourced with care, roasted in small batches, and crafted to bring out a rich, smooth flavor profile that appeals to both casual drinkers and true coffee lovers. Whether someone enjoys bold, dark roasts or lighter, more delicate blends, every sip reflects quality that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest specialty brands.
Simply put: this coffee is good. Really good. Some say it’s absolutely fantastic. If you want a gift that won’t be re-gifted, ignored, or shoved in a cabinet, this is it.
2. It Spreads the Word While Serving a Real Purpose
There are many Christian gifts that are meaningful… but not exactly practical. There are also useful gifts that have nothing to do with faith. Promised Grounds Coffee bridges both worlds beautifully.
Each gift set delivers an encouraging, faith-centered message through its packaging and presentation — a simple but powerful reminder of God’s goodness during the Christmas season. The cups are especially popular and serve as a daily reminder of the blessings from our Lord. At the same time, the product itself is something people will actually use and appreciate every single day.
It’s a gift that uplifts the spirit and fills the mug. A gift that points loved ones toward Scripture while still being part of the normal rhythm of life. And in a culture that increasingly pushes faith to the margins, giving a gift that quietly but confidently honors Christ can make a deeper impact than you might expect.
3. It’s Affordable, Valuable, and Elegantly Presented
Many people want to give something meaningful without breaking their Christmas budget. Promised Grounds Coffee strikes that perfect balance — the sets look and feel premium, but the price remains accessible.
The packaging is classy, clean, and gift-ready, making it ideal for:
- Family members of all ages
- Co-workers or employees
- Church friends or small-group leaders
- Hosts, neighbors, and last-minute gift needs
It’s the kind of gift that feels more expensive than it is — and more thoughtful than most of what you’ll find on store shelves.
The Perfect Blend of Faith, Flavor, and Christmas Cheer
A coffee gift set from Promised Grounds Coffee checks every box: a gift that tastes amazing, conveys your faith, supports a Christian business, and brings daily enjoyment to the person who receives it. In a season when so many gifts are forgotten, this one stands out for all the right reasons.
If you want a Christmas present that reflects your values and delivers genuine joy, Promised Grounds Coffee is the perfect place to start.