STATEMENT from the Project on Predatory Student Lending: What We’re Watching for in Linda McMahon’s Confirmation Hearing
Washington, D.C. (Feb. 12, 2025) – The Senate confirmation hearing for Linda McMahon as President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education is planned for tomorrow, February 13. The Project on Predatory Student Lending, the leading nonprofit legal organization representing borrowers defrauded by predatory colleges, will be watching to learn how the nominee views critical oversight and regulations that protect borrowers and prevent predatory institutions from abusing the federal student loan system.
What we want to hear from the nominee:
Will the nominee pledge to follow the rule of law and respect any court orders that she may not personally agree with? This would be in contrast to her predecessor under the previous Trump administration, Secretary DeVos, who blatantly disregarded court orders and was held in contempt of court.
Does Ms. McMahon agree that schools should not be able to lie to, cheat, or mislead students and that we must have policies in place to hold predatory institutions accountable?
Will the administration prioritize borrower protections and accountability and ensure that regulations, including borrower defense, are implemented and followed?
Statement from Ashley Harrington, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Project on Predatory Student Lending:
“If this administration is truly committed to advancing economic and educational opportunity, and reducing the debt burden of getting a college degree, the next Secretary of Education must agree that abusing the student loan system and defrauding borrowers for profit is illegal. Most importantly, the Secretary must commit to following the rule of law, including upholding court orders and enforcing critical borrower protections and accountability measures like borrower defense. Any nominee who cannot commit to these basic principles should not be confirmed as Secretary.
At PPSL, we have defended the rights of student borrowers spanning multiple presidential administrations, and we look forward to continuing the work to hold predatory actors and our government accountable to the law and to borrowers.”
For additional background and information on borrower defense, visit ppsl.org/borrowerdefense.
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 $16 billion of fraudulent student loan debt.
