On March 10, 2025, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) joined forces with the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), the Postsecondary Data Collaborative (PostsecData), and 87 other organizations and individual researchers. Together, they sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to use their oversight power concerning recent actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The letter specifically addresses the cancellation of contracts and grants by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and raises concerns about access to sensitive student information.
The signatories express concern over how personally identifiable information collected by the U.S. Department of Education is being handled. This data includes sensitive details such as social security numbers and tax records of student loan borrowers. According to the letter, there are "serious privacy and security concerns" due to limited information on who has accessed this data, how it is being protected, and its current usage.
The group calls for Congressional inquiry and oversight to address these issues. They believe that further investigation would provide clarity on how sensitive student information is managed.
Read the full letter here.
