Senator Tina Smith Demands Answers on Elon Musk’s Access to Federal Student Loan Data

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith has joined 15 other U.S. senators in requesting an investigation into reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may have gained unauthorized access to the personal information of millions of federal student loan borrowers. The senators sent a letter to Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter, raising concerns about potential violations of federal privacy laws.
The sensitive data allegedly accessed includes Social Security numbers, marital status, and income information from the federal database, which contains records for over 40 million borrowers across the United States.
“This deeply troubling report raises questions about potential exposures of Americans’ private data,” the letter states. The senators also expressed concerns about reports that DOGE engineers may have bypassed security protocols and potentially violated the Privacy Act, which prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
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Why This Matters to Minnesota Residents
Many Minnesotans are among the federal student loan borrowers who could be affected by this security breach. With more than 14% of Minnesota adults holding student loan debt, concerns about privacy and data misuse are high. Additionally, this issue follows a 2023 data breach affecting thousands of Minnesota students when the Minnesota Department of Education experienced a cyberattack.
Senator Smith emphasized that the Department of Education must safeguard the sensitive information entrusted to it by millions of families pursuing higher education. The senators have requested a full response from the department by February 13, 2025.
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What’s Next
The senators are seeking detailed answers regarding:
• Who had access to the data
• Whether protocols were followed
• The extent of data shared with DOGE engineers
• Steps being taken to prevent future breaches
This inquiry could have significant implications for future data security measures, both in Minnesota and across the country.
For more information, visit the Minnesota DNR’s website or access the full text of the letter.
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