Trump Administration Requests Supreme Court to Pause Cases on Student Debt and Environmental Policies

The Justice Department seeks to reassess Biden-era policies, potentially rendering pending legal challenges moot.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to freeze four cases involving student loan forgiveness and environmental regulations while it reviews the policies in question.
The Department of Education plans to reassess a Biden-era rule that expanded student debt relief for borrowers defrauded by their schools, which was previously blocked by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Three environmental cases involve challenges to EPA decisions, including California's vehicle emissions standards, state ozone reduction plans, and biofuel requirements for oil refineries.
The Justice Department's motions suggest the administration may reverse the regulations underlying these cases, potentially making the disputes irrelevant.
It is common for new administrations to reconsider legal positions inherited from their predecessors, often leading to shifts in ongoing cases before the Supreme Court.