U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to a crowd gathered in entrance of the U.S. Treasury Division in protest of Elon Musk and the Division of Authorities Effectivity on Feb. 4, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Anna Rose Layden | Getty Photographs
U.S. senators expressed concern on Friday that Elon Musk’s cost-cutting effort, the Division of Authorities Effectivity, had “infiltrated” the Division of Schooling and probably gained entry to federal scholar mortgage knowledge on tens of hundreds of thousands of debtors.
In a letter signed by 16 Democratic senators, together with Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chuck Schumer of New York, the lawmakers mentioned that the Schooling Division’s scholar mortgage database “comprises hundreds of thousands of debtors’ extremely delicate data, together with Social Safety numbers, marital standing, and revenue knowledge.”
The senators cited reporting by The Washington Submit, which famous Schooling Division workers had been “deeply alarmed” by DOGE staffers’ entry to federal scholar mortgage debtors’ private data.
“The hundreds of thousands of households who depend on ED to assist them obtain the American Dream deserve solutions about reviews that an unelected billionaire and his staff now have entry to a few of their most delicate private data,” the senators wrote.
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The lawmakers addressed their letter to U.S. Division of Schooling Appearing Secretary Denise Carter, and requested for solutions by Feb. 13, together with on whether or not DOGE workers meet “the strict standards” that may enable them involvement within the Schooling Division’s knowledge on debtors. Musk’s DOGE is an workplace throughout the president’s government workplace, tasked with searching for methods to shrink the federal price range.
Madi Biedermann, spokesperson for the U.S. Division of Schooling, mentioned DOGE workers are federal staff.
“They’ve been sworn in, have the required background checks and clearances, and are centered on making the Division extra cost-efficient, efficient, and accountable to the taxpayers,” Biedermann mentioned. “There’s nothing inappropriate or nefarious occurring.”
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Latest information that DOGE was granted entry to the Treasury Division’s system, which incorporates Social Safety and Medicare funds, additionally triggered criticism from Democratic lawmakers and advocates.
Individually, the Trump administration is contemplating an government order that might shut down elements of the U.S. Division of Schooling, The Wall Avenue Journal reported Monday.
It is unsure what this could imply for the 42 million Individuals with federal scholar loans. The Schooling Division administers the nation’s $1.6 trillion in excellent schooling debt.
Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Nationwide Pupil Authorized Protection Community, representing the College of California Pupil Affiliation, additionally filed a lawsuit on Friday towards the U.S. Division of Schooling for sharing knowledge with Musk’s DOGE.
“College students’ participation in federal monetary help packages would not give the federal government carte blanche to make use of their private data for no matter functions it desires,” mentioned Adam Pulver, an lawyer at Public Citizen Litigation Group.