WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he’s “not confident” how the Supreme Court will rule on his plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt.
“I’m confident we’re on the right side of the law,” he told reporters as he was leaving the White House. “But I’m not confident about the outcome of the decision yet.”
The Supreme Court held oral arguments in the student loan debt forgiveness cases on Tuesday. During the arguments, the Supreme Court’s conservative justices suggested the administration may have overstepped its authority by creating a program estimated to benefit more than 40 million borrowers.
Six conservative states and two borrowers sued over the program. The court won’t issue a decision on the cases until later this year.
The White House has maintained that the president has legal authority in creating the program. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday defended the U.S. solicitor general’s argument in front of the Supreme Court, calling it “really strong.”
More:Regardless of SCOTUS decision, 25 million people will have to repay student debt. Here’s how to prepare.
But Jean-Pierre declined to comment on a possible “Plan B” if the Supreme Court does rule against the Biden administration, such as extending the student loan repayment pause.
“Our focus right now is getting this done,” Jean-Pierre said. “Our plan is what we laid out in August . . . This is a plan that’s going to give relief to 10s of millions of Americans across the country.”
Contributing: John Fritze, Chris Quintana and Joey Garrison
Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_