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Supreme Court keeps Biden’s SAVE plan on ice. Here’s what that means for people with student loans.
When President Joe Biden unveiled his administration’s new student debt repayment plan a year ago, he heralded it as “the most affordable student loan plan ever.” Now, it also may qualify as one of the most stymied repayment plans ever created.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to reinstate the program, called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, as an appeals process over its legality plays out.
The SAVE plan was created to fix some long-standing problems with earlier income-driven repayment plans, or IDRs. It also debuted a month after the Supreme Court blocked Mr. Biden’s plan to erase up to $20,000 in debt per student borrower. Because SAVE also promises to lower monthly loan payments — to as low as $0 for some low-income borrowers— it proved immediately popular and today has 8 million enrollees.
The SAVE plan “was Team Biden’s creative response to an earlier Supreme Court decision rejecting its use of the COVID-19 emergency to broadly forgive student loan debt,” noted Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at TD Cowen, in a research note. “That creativity made it susceptible to legal challenge.”
Here’s what to know about the next steps for people with student loans enrolled in SAVE.
What is the status of the SAVE plan?
Right now, SAVE is on hold due to a sweeping injunction issued last month by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. That ruling prohibited the Biden administration from implementing the parts of the plan that were not already blocked by two lower court rulings.
In those cases, judges in Kansas and Missouri in June had ruled in favor of several Republican-led states that argued the plan overstepped the Biden administration’s authority. The states also claimed that offering borrowers relief before a loan had matured could cause financial harm to lenders and loan servicers.
The upshot: Because the Supreme Court left the appeals court ruling in place, the SAVE plan is essentially frozen for the time being,
What does that mean for SAVE participants?
Following the 8th Circuit’s July ruling, SAVE’s 8 million enrollees saw their loan payments suspended. With the Supreme Court’s order keeping that ruling in place, those borrowers will remain in forbearance, Department of Education officials noted.
While in forbearance, SAVE participants don’t have to make monthly payments, nor will they accrue interest on their loans during that time, according to the agency. But the time someone stays in forbearance won’t count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or IDR loan forgiveness, it added.
People enrolled in these plans can earn forgiveness after repaying their loans for a number of years, with the PSLF enrollees qualifying after 10 years of repayments, for instance. But because the time spent in forbearance won’t count toward that, it could ultimately take some borrowers more time to earn forgiveness.
What is the Biden administration doing about the court rulings?
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told CBS Mornings on Thursday that the Biden administration is continuing to dispute the decisions in court.
“We’re going to continue to fight for borrowers,” he said. “Student debt shouldn’t be a life sentence.”
In the meantime, the Supreme Court said in its order that it expects the 8th Circuit to soon issue a fuller decision on the SAVE case. That could trigger an appeal to Supreme Court later this year, although a high court decision likely wouldn’t come until 2025, noted TD Cowen’s Seiberg.
Could the presidential election have an impact on the SAVE plan?
Quite possibly. If Democratic candidate Kamala Harris wins in November, the Education Department is likely to continue to litigate to protect the SAVE program. Her administration could also create a new repayment program designed to withstand legal challenges.
If Republican candidate Donald Trump wins, it’s likely his administration would drop the legal battle and allow the court orders blocking SAVE to stand. A Republican win, in other words, would likely kill off SAVE for good, while forbearance would come to an end for its 8 million enrollees, Seiberg said.
For now, forbearance is likely to “stay in effect at least to the inauguration,” he said. “And a Harris win likely means it is in effect for longer.”
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U.S. Air Force gives update on new B-21 stealth bomber: “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing”
Air Force leaders gave an update on the B-21 Raider, a futuristic aircraft that is expected to become the United States’ next nuclear stealth bomber.
The aircraft can deliver both “conventional and nuclear munitions,” according to a news release from the Air Force, but will be “critical to deterring conflict” around the world. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, said the stealth bomber will help the United States keep pace with threats worldwide.
“We are the free world’s only bomber force. … Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing right now,” Bussiere said, adding that there will likely be an increased demand for the support the stealth bomber can provide in the coming years.
Air Force Global Strike Command
Currently, the stealth bomber remains in the test flight stage, and is doing two such flights a week, according to Thomas Jones, the Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector president. A photo shared by the Air Force shows one of the bombers during flight testing.
“We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence … when we started this journey, we made a vow that we were going to design this system to be a daily flyer,” Jones said, according to the release. “It’s been a phenomenal year of progress, and we hope to continue that through the next year.”
A recent notable test confirmed the stealth bomber’s structural design and integrity, according to officials. The plane is now going through a fatigue testing campaign.
Once the planes are tested, some of the aircraft will be delivered to the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to help train Air Force squadrons on the stealth bomber. When the B-21 enters the service, this site will be the main operating base for the stealth bomber.
Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri will be a secondary base, and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas a third.
The stealth bomber is set to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers in the Air Force’s fleet.
Getty Images
Whether you’re barreling down a mountainside or taking a leisurely ride along your local trail, a great mountain bike is key. But what exactly does a great mountain bike look like, in terms of features? It depends on the kind of terrain and riding style you do.
The best mountain bike for long, cross-country rides will have very different specs than a downhill bike. Some offer full suspension for a smooth ride on bumpy trails. Some have wider tires that are better at gripping wet or sandy terrain. Some are designed for maximum pedaling efficiency and serious stopping power so you can climb steep mountainsides without wearing yourself out. No matter where you and your new bike are headed this fall, we’ve rounded up the best mountain bikes for every rider and every terrain in 2024. Don’t forget to strap on your bike helmet.
Best mountain bike for beginners: Giant Talon 29 1
Mike’s Bikes
The Giant Talon 29 1 is a solid entry-level mountain bike at a reasonable price point. With its balanced frame geometry and high-traction tires, it’s great for a comfortable, stable ride on most trails. While that means it’s not specialized for uphill climbs or cross-country speed, the balanced design is great for beginners or casual riders who aren’t planning to tackle those more challenging technical trails just yet.
With 80mm to 100mm of suspension travel, this hardtail mountain bike strikes that perfect balance of pedaling efficiency and shock absorption.
Riders can also adjust the suspension within that range by adjusting the air spring and the rebound damping. That gives you improved steering precision and a better ride feel since you can tailor it to your needs. If you’re a beginner, it may take some trial and error to fine-tune those settings, but playing around with them is a great way to learn how suspension impacts your ride.
Get this reliable entry-level mountain bike at Mike’s Bikes for $950.
Top features of the Giant Talon 29 1:
- Grippy tires offer great traction in any trail conditions.
- The balanced frame geometry makes this a comfortable bike for most riders.
- The adjustable suspension fork allows you to fine-tune this mountain bike for your needs.
Best trail bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy C R
Backcountry
A full-suspension mountain bike with 120mm and 130mm suspension travel on the rear and front, respectively, it doesn’t get cushier than the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R (at least, not at this price point). Built for cross-country or trail riding, this bike’s design allows you to glide through rocky terrain almost as if you were just cruising on a paved road. That suspension also helps cushion the impact on pops and short drops so you can build up speed while navigating the trail with confidence.
With that said, it can be a little sluggish on uphill climbs. But if you typically stick to more straightforward trails, you won’t have to deal with that issue. For those just-for-fun weekend trail rides, this is the mountain bike you want.
Get this comfortable, agile trail bike at Backcountry while it’s on sale for $3,849 (reduced from $4,799).
Top features of the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R:
- Boasting full suspension, this mountain bike is a comfy ride no matter how bumpy the terrain.
- The carbon C frame is both lightweight and stiff for better control and improved agility.
- The four-piston brakes offer excellent stopping power.
Best fat tire mountain bike: State 6061 Trail+
State Bicycle Co.
For wet or sandy trails, traction is everything, which means you need a fat tire bike like the State 6061 Trail+. With 4.5-inch wide tires that can handle running even at low PSI, this mountain bike can grip the trail no matter how loose or slippery.
Whether you want to cruise along sandy beaches or power through snowy mountain trails, the stability of this fat tire bike is the key to doing so safely and confidently. You won’t be building up much speed, but you’ll have a lot of fun plowing through trails that a standard trail bike couldn’t even touch.
Get this fat tire bike directly from State Bicycle Co. for $1,000.
Top features of the State 6061 Trail+:
- Thick 4.5-inch tires provide extra grip for wet or loose terrain like snow, sand and mud.
- With low PSI capabilities, you can lower the tire pressure to widen the surface area even further to maximize your grip on soft, slippery trails.
- The alloy frame is stiff and strong without adding any more bulk than necessary.
Best mountain bike under $500: Huffy Stone Mountain
Amazon
The Huffy Stone Mountain is a hardtail mountain bike that is lightweight and offers good traction for navigating trails. The budget-friendly bike is missing a lot of the features you’ll find on the more advanced mountain bikes listed above. However, if you’re just starting out and just want to get out on a trail to see if you like mountain biking, this is a good bike to start with.
While you can’t take it on any serious trails, it’s got the basics you need for easy local bike trails. Use it to get a feel for the sport and then upgrade to a mountain bike better suited to the kind of trails you want to tackle. Then, pass this Huffy Stone Mountain on to a friend or teen who’s curious about mountain biking.
A bestseller on Amazon, this budget mountain bike is available for as low as $200.
Top features of the Huffy Stone Mountain:
- This budget entry-level bike is great for casual rides on easy bike trails.
- A wide variety of frame and wheel sizes allows you to get the right fit for your height.
- The lightweight, high-traction design is just enough to let you get a feel for mountain biking before committing to a higher-priced mountain bike with more advanced features and customizability.
Shop more top-rated mountain bikes:
What type of mountain bike should a beginner get?
The best mountain bike for a beginner is a balanced, versatile one. Since you’re probably not tackling steep inclines and declines yet, opt for a trail bike that offers great traction, strong brakes and easy maneuverability along bumpy, muddy trails. That means grippy tires and responsive steering so you can confidently control your bike over tree roots, up hills and on descents.
If the trails you’re eager to go on are largely uphill, look for a bike that’s lightweight with a firmer pedaling platform. Those two features will improve climb efficiency so you’re not wearing yourself out on those uphill stretches.
Do I need a full-suspension mountain bike?
You don’t need a full-suspension mountain bike, but they are nice to have. Unlike hardtail mountain bikes, which only have suspension in the front, full-suspension mountain bikes have suspension in both the front and rear. That extra suspension helps absorb shock, cushioning the impact as you hop over bumps or navigate downhill jumps and drops.
That cushier feel can be nice even on milder trail rides, but they tend to be significantly more expensive and require more maintenance than a hardtail mountain bike. So it might not be worth the extra expense and care if you don’t usually do technical trails or downhill riding.
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