Senator Elizabeth Warren and nine fellow Democrats on Monday demanded an independent inquiry into how the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gained entry to sensitive federal student loan records, marking a new chapter in an ongoing fight over borrower privacy and data security. In a letter to the Education Department’s Office of Inspector General, Warren described DOGE’s actions as an “infiltration” of internal systems that hold personal details for more than 40 million borrowers and oversee a $1.6 trillion loan portfolio.
Warren’s letter said that one DOGE staff member was granted read‑only entry to two key databases within Federal Student Aid. Those systems store Social Security numbers, income statements and bank account information for borrowers across the country. Though the department later revoked that access, it offered no clear explanation for why it was granted in the first place or why it was pulled back, the letter noted. Warren called that lack of clarity “dangerous for the future of an agency that handles an extensive student loan portfolio.”
The Massachusetts senator’s demand follows reports that DOGE employees used the borrower data to feed artificial intelligence programs in an effort to pinpoint where cuts might occur. Tech experts urged a fuller look at how private contractors use AI on government records and warned that any misuse could expose borrowers to identity theft or financial harm. Warren said she wants to know how deep DOGE’s reach went, what safeguards the department put in place and what risks remain for student borrowers.
Legal challenges are already underway. In February, Public Citizen Litigation Group and Student Defense sued to block the Education Department’s data sharing, arguing that it breached federal privacy laws. Their complaint said the agency failed to follow rules designed to protect student data from unauthorized use. A separate suit brought by the American Federation of Teachers accused DOGE representatives of working to dismantle key department functions while holding access to private records. That lawsuit highlighted a case in which a 19‑year‑old DOGE staffer allegedly leaked internal documents, raising questions about contractor vetting.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended the arrangement as part of a drive to root out waste and fraud. She told congressional panels that DOGE workers had the same database permissions as career staff and that they conducted a “solid audit” of department spending. McMahon insisted that the partnership would help taxpayers by trimming unnecessary expenses and would not compromise borrower data or privacy.
DOGE itself took shape in January by executive order from the president. Tasked with cutting federal costs and reorganizing cabinet agencies, it deployed teams into several departments in the spring. The effort moved quickly, giving DOGE staff access to various datasets before full oversight procedures could take effect. Critics say that pace prioritized cost cutting over careful data handling and left too many questions unanswered.
Borrower advocates say this latest episode amounts to the largest known breach of American student loan data. They point to the sheer scale of the records involved and the possibility that artificial intelligence tools could expose borrowers to new risks. Warren’s probe request aims to force the Education Department to reveal how it allowed the access, what limits it placed on data use and how it plans to prevent any future lapses.
As the inspector general reviews the case, Warren has set a June 24 deadline for the agency to respond. Her office said the investigation will help restore confidence in the student loan system and ensure that private entities cannot exploit the personal information of millions of Americans. The episode underscores growing concern on Capitol Hill over how government data moves between public agencies and outside contractors, and it could shape future rules on data security and oversight in federal programs.
