Democrats Alarmed by Potential Illicit Sharing of Student Loan Data with Elon Musk’s DOGE

U.S. Senate Democrats are expressing frustration regarding the Education Department’s handling of inquiries related to allegations that Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service accessed millions of student loan borrowers’ personal data. Led by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a group of 15 senators demands more transparency from Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter by March 5 concerning DOGE’s access to this sensitive information.

The urgency for clarity follows a federal judge’s recent ruling, which temporarily prevents the Education Department and the Office of Personnel Management from releasing “personally identifiable information” to DOGE. This legal action is backed by a coalition of labor unions, veteran organizations, and advocacy groups who filed a lawsuit in February, claiming violations of the Privacy Act.

The initial outreach from Warren and her colleagues on February 7 was triggered by reports indicating that DOGE had allegedly infiltrated the Education Department, compromising access to federal student loan data. The senators sought confirmation on whether Musk’s team had indeed gained access and demanded information on protective measures in place to prevent misuse.

In its one-page response, the Education Department asserted that it maintains robust security measures to safeguard data and denied involvement in any unauthorized data exchanges. However, this reply has been criticized as “woefully inadequate” by the senators, who claim it fails to address fundamental questions regarding DOGE’s access.

Concerns escalated over the response, with the senators emphasizing that it may contain misleading elements and raises doubts about compliance with legal protocols governing data handling. The timing of the federal judge’s intervention adds further weight to their apprehensions about potential violations by the Education Department.

The letter, signed by prominent figures including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators from various states, underscores growing bipartisan unease regarding data privacy in education and the potential implications of such access by private entities.