Consumer complaint received 2025-02-10 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer — Problem with customer service
Company: MOHELA
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
Please read this carefully and get it where it needs to go. None of the prompts provided on this site described my problem, so I just selected whatever I could to reach this page where I can explain it in depth. 


Subject : Complaint Regarding Violation of XXXX Rights by the XXXX Department of Education To Whom It XXXX Concern, My name is XXXX XXXX! I am submitting this complaint regarding a violation of my rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( XXXX ) by the XXXX Department of Education ( XXXX ). I believe that the Department improperly disclosed my personally identifiable information ( PII ), including financial and student loan records, to unauthorized partiesspecifically to XXXX ( Department of Government Ethics ), which is not a recognized XXXX department, and to individuals affiliated with XXXX XXXX. 

This disclosure occurred without my authorization and without adherence to legally required procedures, violating FERPAs confidentiality protections. Additionally, the individual in charge of DOGE is neither an elected official nor an appointee confirmed through the proper legal process, further compounding the lack of legitimacy in their access to my records. 

Basis of My Complaint 1. Unauthorized Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information ( PII ) : FERPA ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g ; 34 CFR Part 99 ) strictly protects student records from disclosure without explicit, written consent. Under 34 CFR 99.30, the Department of Education must obtain my authorization before releasing any part of my educational records. I did not provide such consent. 
XXXX. XXXX is Not a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : The so-called Department of Government Ethics ( XXXX ) is not a recognized department under the XXXX government XXXX Since it lacks lawful authority, any access it had to my educational and financial records is inherently illegitimate. 
Furthermore, the person in charge of XXXX was neither elected nor properly appointed through constitutional procedures, meaning they had no lawful basis to request or receive my records. 
XXXX. Failure to Qualify for a XXXX Exception : XXXX only allows student records to be disclosed without consent under narrowly defined exceptions ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), such as compliance with a judicial order or financial aid eligibility verification. XXXX and its affiliates do not meet any of these criteria. 
This breach is a clear violation of XXXX and the Department XXXX XXXX legal responsibility to safeguard my information. 
XXXX. Breach of Transparency Obligations & Further Unauthorized Disclosures : XXXX CFR XXXX explicitly prohibits the re-disclosure of student information without proper authorization. If DOGE or individuals associated with XXXX XXXX were allowed to access, review, or distribute my records, this constitutes an additional violation of FERPA protections.

I was never notified in advance about this data sharing, violating the Departments duty to maintain transparency and accountability regarding my private information.

Requested Resolution Given the severity of this breach and the resulting compromise of my personal and financial information, I request that you : 1. Immediately cancel and discharge my student loan debt in full as a corrective action for this privacy violation.

2. Conduct a full investigation into the Department of Educations unlawful disclosure of student records to XXXX and its affiliates. 
XXXX. Provide a written record of when, how, and why my information was accessed and disclosed, and who authorized this action. 
XXXX. Implement stronger protections to prevent similar XXXX violations from occurring in the future. 

The Department of Education failed in its legal duty to protect my private information, instead allowing it to be compromised by an unauthorized, unrecognized entity with no legal standing. This breach is unacceptable, and I urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) to take immediate action to address this violation. 

I look forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation