There are growing concerns surrounding potential violations of federal privacy laws involving student loan borrowers and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics are claiming that DOGE has accessed private educational data, possibly in violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a law that protects the privacy of student records.
Musk and his DOGE team have been investigating the operations of the Department of Education, a government agency that President Donald Trump has long considered eliminating. With an eye on reducing government spending, Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to shrink the department as much as possible, potentially even pushing for Congress to dismantle it entirely. To support this, DOGE has been scrutinizing the department’s activities and records, including student loan records, with the aim of cutting unnecessary expenses.
Meanwhile, social media has become a hotbed for complaints. Numerous TikTok videos have gained traction, with some amassing hundreds of thousands of views, urging borrowers to take legal action against the alleged breach. These videos claim that DOGE’s access to sensitive student data violates FERPA, a law designed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of educational records. Borrowers are being advised to file complaints and seek loan forgiveness if their data has been unlawfully shared.
Despite these viral claims, the Education Department insists that no unauthorized data sharing has taken place. A department spokesperson clarified that the Federal Student Aid office has complied with all privacy laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974. They emphasized that Federal Student Aid has not exposed any borrower information unlawfully.
However, there is still significant concern among some lawmakers and legal experts. Democratic senators have written to the Education Department, questioning whether DOGE has met the legal criteria for accessing such sensitive data. The controversy has sparked intense debate about the balance between privacy and the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the education system.
Some legal experts, such as attorney Jay Fleischman, have pointed out that while FERPA violations could technically lead to legal action, the government would need to enforce those actions. With the Education Department facing potential cuts and restructuring, it is unclear whether the necessary resources will be in place to ensure student rights are upheld.
This situation raises fundamental questions about government transparency, accountability, and the protection of personal data. As the Trump administration considers its next steps, the implications for student privacy and loan forgiveness remain uncertain. The debate over the future of the Department of Education continues to unfold, with potential long-term consequences for borrowers across the nation.