U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Elizabeth Warren, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have opened an investigation into the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) proposed plan to replace federal student aid call centers with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. They expressed skepticism about the plan’s potential impact on borrowers and families in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
The senators voiced concerns that the AI chatbots, much like Chat-GPT and Gemini that are known for occasionally providing incorrect information, might give inaccurate advice. This could lead to students and families making uninformed decisions about financial aid, potentially affecting student loan repayments, Pell Grant eligibility, and FAFSA applications.
Moreover, privacy issues are at the forefront of their concerns. The senators cautioned that generative AI chatbots might fail to adequately protect sensitive personal data, which could then become accessible to cybercriminals. They also highlighted a potential conflict of interest due to Elon Musk’s financial interests in AI development, noting, "The AI chatbot’s conversations with users would constitute yet another stream of government data that Mr. Musk could use to gain a competitive advantage for xAI."
Their letter, underscoring DOGE’s history of administrative issues, reads, “Given DOGE’s record of prioritizing chaos over competence, there is little reason to believe that DOGE’s AI chatbot would genuinely serve the needs of borrowers and families.”
The senators have requested a formal response from Secretary McMahon by April 15, 2025. The complete text of the letter can be accessed publicly.