Cybersecurity Policy Report, Education Department OIG Will Probe DOGE Handling of Student Loan Data, (Sep 22, 2025)
The Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) will investigate the “handling of sensitive data” at the department by the White House Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a letter from the OIG released Friday by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).
“Ensuring that the Department effectively protects the millions of sensitive records on students, their parents, and others housed in its data systems has long been a priority for the OIG,” acting Inspector General Heidi Semann said.
“Given the sensitive nature of the data it holds, it is crucial that the Department ensures appropriate access to its data systems and maintains effective access controls for system security and privacy protection purposes. Therefore, the OIG plans to look into the Department’s processes for managing access to several sensitive Department data systems,” Ms. Semann said.
Sen. Warren and nine other Senate Democrats requested the OIG review in June amid concerns that DOGE personnel were inappropriately accessing DoE systems, which contain sensitive data about educational institutions and student loan borrowers.
“The American people deserve to know if Elon Musk’s DOGE guys had access to private Social Security numbers and income information,” Sen. Warren said in a news release. “It's about time these amateurs in the Education Department were investigated.”
Sen. Warren’s call for an OIG probe was joined by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.), Ben Ray Luján (D., N.M.), Ed Markey (D., Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Tina Smith (D., Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.), Cory Booker (D., N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.), and Ron Wyden (D., Ore.).
“The Department of Education seemingly allowed DOGE employees unfettered access to Americans’ personal data—leaving borrowers in the dark about who accessed their information and why,” Sen. Blumenthal said. “An OIG investigation will go a long way in delivering the transparency students and their families deserve and help us get to the bottom of whether sensitive information was put at risk.”
News: FederalLegislation DataPrivacy DataSecurity DOGE