The Trump administration uncovered $90 million of student aid wrongfully disbursed to ineligible recipients.
The Education Department accused the Biden administration of neglecting its responsibilities to ensure that aid was delivered properly to administer its student loan bailout agenda.
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“As we continue to rehabilitate the student loan portfolio, we must also ensure there are accountability measures at every step of the student aid process,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. “From start to finish — filling out the FAFSA form to loan repayment — the American taxpayer underwrites federal student aid programs. We are committed to protecting and responsibly investing their hard-earned dollars.”
The Education Department pledged to strengthen its oversight amid its findings that “$30 million in aid was disbursed to thousands of deceased individuals over the past three years.” In response, the department vowed that it would be “strengthening real-time data-sharing with the Social Security Administration.”
The department is also working with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that students on immigration parole, who are deemed ineligible for funding, do not receive aid disbursements.
TRUMP’S SECOND TERM COULD UNDO BIDEN’S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
In March, the department resumed flagging applicants believed to have used someone else’s identity. This comes as nearly $40 million in direct loan payments and $6 million in Pell Grants were incorrectly disbursed to ineligible individuals.
“The Department uses data models to identify potentially suspicious or inconsistent information submitted on the FAFSA form,” the press release stated. “These models help flag applications that may require additional review to ensure the student aid is awarded accurately.”