Two Republican attorneys general have accused Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona of violating the Hatch Act in connection to recent comments about President Biden's student loan forgiveness plans. The attorneys general from Montana and Kansas wrote to the Hatch Act unit special counsel, alleging that Cardona's statements were partisan political statements made in his official capacity and aimed at influencing the 2024 Presidential election.
The Hatch Act is a federal law that restricts political activities of federal employees. The attorneys general argue that the Department of Education's actions, following the Supreme Court's rejection of Biden's student loan debt relief plan, were politically motivated. They claim that the timing of the debt cancellation plans was intended to sway voters and buy votes with federal funds.
In a letter on official government letterhead, Cardona expressed determination to lower costs for student loan borrowers and criticized Republican elected officials for their opposition to debt relief efforts. The attorneys general assert that Cardona's statements violated the Hatch Act by using government resources for political activities and attacking elected officials based on their party affiliation.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Education defended Cardona's statements, stating that they were factually accurate descriptions of the lawsuits and aimed at addressing borrower confusion following court decisions. The spokesperson maintained that the statements did not violate the Hatch Act.
The attorneys general are calling for a significant penalty against Cardona for what they perceive as repeated and flagrant violations of the Hatch Act. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over the intersection of politics and government actions, particularly in the realm of education policy.
