Kaul signs in support of public servants denied wiping out of student-loan debt

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Attorney General Josh Kaul is joining 13 other district attorneys general in support of public servants denied federal wiping out of their student-loan debt. Kaul signed onto an amicus brief filed in support of public servants on Friday.

The lawsuit involves the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Teachers, law-enforcement officials, military members and other public servants were promised federal wiping out of their student loan debt in exchange for 10 years of public service. The lawsuit says those students have been denied debt relief after their 10 years of service because of the U.S. Department of Education’s mismanagement of the program. Federal reports said the department “committed pervasive errors” in administering the program, including record-keeping mistakes, giving borrowers misinformation and steering borrowers to take actions to make them ineligible for relief.

As a result, less than one percent of all applicants received loan relief. The first borrowers became eligible in October 2017, and more than 90,000 people applied. Only 845 have received it so far. The lawsuit was filed in July against Betsy DeVos, secretary of education, and the U.S. Department of Education.

In the amicus brief, Kaul asks the court to thoroughly review borrowers’ claims to decide whether they should have the opportunity to prove their case. He joins 13 other district attorneys general in support of public servants.