Linda McMahon and Donald Trump continue to push their partisan agenda

WASHINGTON - On March 19, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced an interagency agreement to transfer ED's nearly $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio to Treasury for servicing and management in three phases. This move continues the Trump administration's effort to dismantle ED without the constitutionally required approval of Congress.

NEA President Becky Pringle issued the following statement:

"Linda McMahon and Donald Trump are at it again, pushing a harmful, unlawful agenda to gut the U.S. Department of Education while families across the country struggle to make ends meet and push them further into debt.

"Moving the federal student loan program that millions of students rely on to a different agency won't make the dream of higher education more attainable. Instead, this will create additional barriers for students and their families, increase the possibility of wage garnishments, and put some institutions at risk if their policies don't align with the Trump administration. And it gets worse: transferring the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to Treasury could allow federal immigration agents access to sensitive information from mixed-immigration status households. When families fear that the federal government could misuse or abuse their data or that of their loved ones, they're far less likely to apply for student aid, slamming the door on dreams of a college education for their children. Rather than further complicating an already complex program and making it more challenging, the Trump administration should do everything possible to make college more affordable and attainable for all students."

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.