SCOTUS rules Biden student loan cancellation exceeds authority under HEROES Act

The Supreme Court strikes down Biden's $400 billion student debt cancellation plan 6-3 in Biden v. Nebraska (2023), ruling that the HEROES Act of 2003 does not grant the Secretary of Education authority to cancel $10,000-$20,000 in federal student loans for 40 million borrowers. Chief Justice John Roberts writes the majority, applying the "major questions doctrine", requiring Congress to clearly authorize actions of vast economic and political significance. Justice Elena Kagan dissents, calling the doctrine a "get-out-of-jail-free card" for courts to block major policy. Biden announces a new rulemaking process to pursue narrower debt relief paths.