Senators Demand Probe After DOGE Employee Accesses Sensitive Education Data

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, alongside several Senate Democratic colleagues including Tammy Duckworth and Ed Markey, has called on the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to investigate the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to sensitive student loan data. DOGE, previously led by Elon Musk, gained read-only access to two internal Federal Student Aid systems containing personal information of borrowers, a fact that the ED has acknowledged but not fully explained, including why access was later revoked. The Senators expressed concern over the Department's lack of transparency regarding DOGE's role and influence within ED, emphasizing that this opacity poses risks to borrowers and the integrity of federal student aid programs. They are urging the Inspector General to assess whether the Privacy Act and other relevant regulations were followed and to evaluate the implications of DOGE's plans to consolidate Americans' personal data across government databases. Warren and colleagues criticize ED for not disclosing whether any changes were made to the student loan data or if DOGE retains access elsewhere, stressing the importance of protecting borrower privacy and demanding an independent investigation. The issue highlights broader concerns about data security and governmental oversight within the Department of Education.