STATEMENT from the Project on Predatory Student Lending in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education
BOSTON (November 19, 2024) - Statement from Eileen Connor, President and Executive Director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending:
“It’s no surprise that President-elect Trump would nominate an unqualified candidate for Secretary of Education, but the selection of Linda McMahon, shows just how un-seriously Trump takes this responsibility.
Higher education is central to the American Dream – the belief that anyone can work hard, go to college, and create a better future for themselves and their family – but our current system has created a nightmare scenario for many Americans, by treating students as profit centers and allowing predatory actors to thrive with little to no accountability. Now more than ever, we need someone leading the Department of Education who will take this role seriously and work to restore people's faith in a system that has consistently let them down. We need a Secretary who will prioritize creating a high-quality postsecondary system that is affordable and equitable, and protects students from bad actors. To be entrusted with the stewardship of our nation’s entire education system is not a consolation prize, nor should it be a stunt or gimmick.
At PPSL, we know how high the stakes are for people who place their trust in the system of higher education, and we know how serious the consequences are when we get it wrong. Our track record of fighting for student borrowers, spanning multiple presidential administrations, will continue to hold the system accountable no matter who is listed as Secretary of Education.”
About the Project on Predatory Student Lending
The Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) is the leading legal organization representing student borrowers against predatory for-profit colleges and the policies that enable institutions to exploit and cheat students. PPSL uses bold, strategic litigation and advocacy to demand accountability in the higher education space and influence policy solutions to create a more just and affordable education system. PPSL represents more than one million student borrowers and its work has resulted in cancellation of more than $22 billion of fraudulent student loan debt.
