"If you've scrolled through TikTok lately, you might have seen videos claiming you can get your student loans forgiven because Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency illegally accessed your student loan data," CNET reports.

..."DOGE's access to sensitive student loan information fueled online rumors about loan forgiveness. TikTok posts said DOGE violated your privacy rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

By filing a FERPA complaint, they say, you can get your student debt erased. They even shared a template to request loan forgiveness when filing a complaint on the Department of Education's Student Privacy site.

The reality, however, is that FERPA doesn't apply. 

'FERPA is a law that protects the privacy of students' education records held by institutions,' Megan Walter, a senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in an email. 'However, DOGE's investigation does not involve requesting student loan records from colleges or universities.'

Instead, DOGE accessed information held by the Department of Education, and that data is not covered under FERPA. Even if it was, individuals can't file a lawsuit or get their loans dismissed over a FERPA violation."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 4/8/2025