WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear oral arguments about President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness program, an important step toward resolving a monthslong legal battle over whether the administration exceeded its authority when it decided to wipe out debt owed by tens of millions of Americans.

In a brief order, the high court kept the program's implementation on pause – for now. That means Biden will continue to be blocked from implementing loan forgiveness at least until the Supreme Court rules next year. The court said it would hear arguments in the litigation as soon as February.       .

While the court declined a request from the administration to temporarily revive the program while it considers the case, the Biden administration already has extended a pause on student loan payments until as late as June 30, 2023.

A federal judge in Missouri dismissed the states' request to block the program in October, ruling that they lacked standing to sue. While their case presented "important and significant challenges to the debt relief plan," the trial court ruled, "the current plaintiffs are unable to proceed." On appeal, the St.

Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit late Wednesday declined a request from the Biden administration to stay that decision and that case may also be appealed to the Supreme Court.

The case filed by the states is the third time that the loan forgiveness program has come before the Supreme Court.

20. Barrett denied the request to block the program without explanation, as is often the case on the court's emergency docket. .

In a tweet on Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the administration welcomed "the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case on our student debt relief plan for middle and working class borrowers this February."