Since 2018, Betsy DeVos has been in trouble with the Department of Education (DoE) for ignoring their instructions on how to handle the student loan debt of students who were scammed out of a college education. These students took out federal loans to attend for-profit, private schools that shut down and did not offer proper degrees or certifications to students as promised. Victims of this heinous scam were originally offered a clean slate from their loans by the Department of Education, but DeVos feels these students still owe their loans back. The initial 16,000 victims are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against the DoE and almost 30,000 more victims have been identified since the start of the lawsuit.
Betsy DeVos has been going against the demands of the Department of Education for months.
DeVos and her agency have been sending notices and requiring payments for over 16,000 students who were initially found to be immediately affected by the college scam. The Department of Education has made it very clear that these students are not in debt to the government and charged DeVos $100,000, as well as held her in contempt, for trying to make these students pay back their loans. At one point, these students were forced to pay out some money for their loans, which the DoE refunded to victims.
Not only is the debate on student loan debt,
but the issue has hindered the lives of these students drastically-- hurting their credit scores and ability to financially function in society. Due to DeVos's persistent drive to take down these students, a judge has granted a partial reconsideration of punishment. Essentially, the students affected will now be able to argue to the court why holding her in contempt and charging her $100,000 is not sufficient punishment for a crime that has immensely impacted thousands of struggling students.
It seems like Betsy DeVos forgot who she works for.
She works for the Department of Education, not herself or anyone else. As a leader, one is supposed to be below their community lifting them up. It is up to a leader to offer guidance and strength, as well as implement and enforce protocols that are approved by and encourage the community in a positive way. DeVos has not done this with any of her past actions, and this blatant refusal to follow the demands of the community show she is unfit to lead.
This reconsideration is positive news for the education community.
Almost every student, teacher, parent, and administrator that values public education has been unsatisfied with Betsy DeVos's work as the Secretary of the Department of Education. This situation helps the public's case that DeVos is unfit to be in a position of power of education. It also shows her inability to follow directions, something public schools teach in kindergarten.
