U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) protests against Elon Musk and the Department of Efficiency in Washington, D.C. on February 4, 2025 Elon Musk and the Ministry of Efficiency.
Anna Rose Layden | Getty Images
U.S. senators expressed concerns about Elon Musk’s cost-cutting efforts, the government’s Department of Efficiency, that has “infiltrated” the Department of Education and may gain access to the federal government Student Loans Data about tens of millions of borrowers.
exist A letter Signed by 16 Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren Chuck Schumer of Massachusetts and New York said the Department of Education’s student loan database “contains highly sensitive information from millions of borrowers, including social insurance numbers, marital status and income data.”
Senator quoted Report According to the Washington Post, the staff in the education department were “deeply shocked” by the Governor’s staff visiting the personal information of federal student loan borrowers.
“Millions of families rely on Ed to help them realize the American dream, and deserve the answer to the report that an unelected billionaire and his team can now access them most sensitive,” the senator wrote. Personal information.”
More information from personal finance:
How tariffs affect our consumers
The IRS says
Experts say these child tax credit errors may prevent your refund
Members wrote to Acting Secretary of the Department of Education Denise Carter and asked for answers by February 13, including whether Doge employees meet “strict standards” that will involve them in education department’s borrowers data. Musk’s Governor is an office within the President’s Executive Office, whose mission is to find ways to narrow the federal budget.
Madi Biedermann, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education, said Doyle employees are federal employees.
“They were sworn in, had the necessary background checks and licensing, and focused on making the department more cost-effective, effective and accountable to taxpayers,” Bidman said. “Nothing inappropriate or evil happened.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Recent News Doge was granted access to the Treasury system, which includes Social Security and Medicare payments, and has also sparked criticism from Democratic lawmakers and advocates.
Additionally, the Trump administration is considering an executive order that could shut down certain parts of the U.S. Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal Report on Monday.
This is uncertain What does this mean For 42 million Americans with federal student loans. The education sector manages the country’s $1.6 trillion outstanding debt.
The Citizen Litigation Team and the National Student Legal Defense Network, representing the University of California Student Association, also File a lawsuit On Friday, data was shared with Musk’s governor.
“Students participating in the federal financial aid program do not make the government’s picky Carte Blanche use their personal information for the desired purpose,” said Adam Pulver, an attorney for the Citizens’ Litigation Group.
