Trump nominates Mark Priebe as Education Inspector General

The Trump administration has nominated Mark Priebe to serve as the Inspector General for the Department of Education. Priebe, who has served as the acting Inspector General, succeeds Heidi Semann, whose nomination was recently withdrawn. This leadership change follows the dismissal of former Inspector General Sandra Bruce and the departure of acting Inspector General René Rocque, who had previously alerted Congress to difficulties in auditing the department due to restricted access and delays.

Simultaneously, the administration is pursuing significant changes to the Department of Education. Efforts include reducing agency staff and shifting oversight priorities. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has announced plans to end oversight of certain special-education programs and cease enforcement of specific civil rights rules. Additionally, the Department of Justice has issued guidance regarding the legality of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs for federal grantees.

Critics, including the NJ AFL-CIO, argue these actions threaten public education by diverting funds toward voucher programs and dismantling protections for students. The administration has also implemented changes to student debt relief, including the termination of the SAVE income-driven repayment program and the introduction of new barriers to Public Student Loan Forgiveness.