Rep. Craig Presses Trump Administration on Lack of Responsiveness from Dept. of Ed, Continued Confusion Surrounding Student Loan Repayments, Civil Rights Complaints

EAGAN, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig pressed the Trump Administration on their continued lack of responsiveness to inquiries directed to the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) following the Department of Education’s (DoEd) decision to gut department staff and offload its responsibilities to other federal agencies. 

In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Education Undersecretary Nicholas Kent and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey, Rep. Craig cited a significant increase in constituent cases with FSA and OCR since President Trump took office, and expressed concern with the low number of cases that have been positively resolved. She also demanded answers from the Administration about why her office has experienced delays in communication, from FSA and OCR when submitting inquiries on behalf of her constituents. 

“Since the start of your tenures, I have seen an increase in DoEd inquiries, with 50 constituents seeking my office’s assistance with FSA or OCR services,” Rep. Craig wrote. “Only five of these cases (just 10%) received a positive resolution from FSA. 16 of these cases involve delays in student loan application statuses, buybacks and transfers, and 20% of all cases lacked any communication from DoEd or their student loan servicer.”

“Ironically, your mission to dismantle DoEd and ‘Make Education Great Again’ has resulted in more bureaucratic red tape, an increase in unsolved or unanswered cases and wasted taxpayer dollars, all with the goal of fulfilling a political agenda that does not serve my constituents,” Rep. Craig continued. 

“Given the strong bipartisan opposition to your illegal actions and your continued failure to assist my constituents, I must remind you of your oaths of office and moral obligations of your public service, as well as Congress’ constitutional authority to call for your removal from office if deemed necessary,” Rep. Craig wrote. “I demand you support your remaining nonpartisan staff in their work to provide estimated PSLF processing and buyback timelines, directly respond to borrower and caseworker inquiries in a timely manner and provide proper public notice regarding PSLF Program buyback delays.” 

Rep. Craig has fought Republican efforts to dismantle the Department of Education from day one. This Congress, she co-sponsored the Department of Education Protection Act, which would prohibit Congressional funds from being used to fire agency workers or drastically alter the Education Department. She also led a joint resolution opposing cuts to the Department of Education and condemning any Congressional or Executive action that attempts to dismantle the Department.

You can read the full text of her letter here.

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