Attorney Sues Department of Education After Student Loan Payments Soar

Newsweek - Mar 21st, 2025
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An Austin attorney, Ashley Morgan, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and its Secretary, Linda McMahon, after a sudden change in student loan repayment rules caused her monthly payments to skyrocket by nearly 400%. Morgan, enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan for eight years, challenges the removal of forms necessary for recertifying income, vital for keeping payments affordable. This legal action follows a court ruling blocking a new repayment plan and comes amidst President Trump's executive order to shut down the Department of Education, intensifying the turmoil in the federal student loan system.

The implications of Morgan's lawsuit are significant, highlighting the fragility of the current student loan system affecting 43 million borrowers. The removal of recertification forms without warning has left many scrambling for solutions, with broader concerns about the potential dismantling of the Education Department. This could jeopardize the management of a $1.5 trillion loan portfolio and disrupt services like financial aid and civil rights enforcement. Morgan's case underscores the precariousness faced by middle-class borrowers, who rely on stable repayment frameworks to manage substantial debt loads. The ongoing uncertainty raises questions about the future of student loans and federal education policy.

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RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article effectively highlights a pressing issue related to student loan repayments and the challenges faced by borrowers like Ashley Morgan. It presents a clear narrative but could benefit from more balanced reporting and diverse sources to enhance credibility. The story's timeliness and relevance to public interest are strong, though its potential impact is somewhat limited by the lack of authoritative perspectives. Overall, the article provides a compelling look at the personal and systemic implications of recent policy changes, though further verification and context would strengthen its accuracy and depth.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims that align with known events and data, such as the lawsuit filed by Ashley Morgan against the U.S. Department of Education and the issues surrounding income-driven repayment plans. However, it inaccurately names the Education Secretary as Linda McMahon, who is not associated with this role. The claim about President Trump's executive order to dismantle the Department of Education should be verified for its accuracy and context, as such an order would require legislative action, not just an executive order. The article's mention of a court ruling blocking the SAVE Plan is consistent with known legal challenges, but further details would enhance precision.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the perspective of Ashley Morgan and borrowers affected by changes in student loan repayment policies. While it highlights the challenges faced by these individuals, it lacks input from the U.S. Department of Education or other stakeholders, which could provide a more balanced view. The story could benefit from including perspectives on the rationale behind the policy changes or responses from government officials to address the concerns raised.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and straightforward in its presentation of Ashley Morgan's situation and the broader issues with student loan repayments. The narrative is easy to follow, though some sections could benefit from additional context or explanation, such as the specifics of the court ruling and the executive order. The language is accessible, but more detailed background information would enhance reader comprehension.

5
Source quality

The article does not explicitly cite sources or provide direct quotes from official documents or statements, which affects its credibility. It references Ashley Morgan's experiences and quotes her directly, but lacks corroboration from other authoritative sources such as government officials or legal experts. Including diverse and authoritative sources would enhance the reliability of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the sources of its information and the methodology behind its claims. There is no mention of how the information was obtained or whether the author has any potential conflicts of interest. Providing context for the claims and explaining the basis for the lawsuit and policy changes would improve transparency and help readers understand the article's foundation.

Sources

  1. https://protectborrowers.org/aft-sues-u-s-department-of-education-demands-justice-for-student-loan-borrowers-blocked-from-affordable-loan-payments/
  2. https://clearinghouse.net/case/46248/
  3. https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics
  4. https://www.kut.org/education/2025-03-12/austin-tx-student-loan-payments-borrower-debt-department-of-education
  5. https://www.kvue.com/video/money/austin-attorney-sues-department-education-student-loan-payments/269-c754b12b-6404-4934-a503-2d5f220bb621