Dan Zibel
danzibel.bsky.social
Dan Zibel
@danzibel.bsky.social
Dad to 2 fantastic kids. Married to @chrissiejuliano.bsky.social.
Co-founder & Chief Counsel at @studentdefense.bsky.social. #higherEd #GoBlue
Thank you @katiephang.bsky.social for highlighting our lawsuit to stop the Administration's blatantly illegal attempt to chill the important calling of public service.
Trump wants to stop millions of student loan borrowers who have worked for non-profits & other qualifying employers from Congressionally-guaranteed loan forgiveness.

@studentdefense.bsky.social has sued to stop Trump & Sec. of Ed. McMahon from targeting opposing politics.

youtu.be/jffHAGJYoJU?...
Trump Hit With MASSIVE Lawsuit Over Student Loan SCANDAL
YouTube video by Katie Phang
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
The SHAPE AI Initiative kicked off this week with a convening of the advisory committee.

We will work hard to ensure that student protections are top of mind as more colleges partner with AI companies.

defendstudents.org/all/safeguar...
October 31, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
ICYMI: The Trump Admin paused their demand for the personal data of millions of SNAP recipients following a lawsuit we filed w/ @studentdefense.bsky.social, @nclej.bsky.social, and @epic.org on behalf of students + individuals receiving SNAP, @mazonusa.bsky.social‬, and @epic.org protdem.org/4krIVfi
Trump Administration Backs Off Effort to Collect Data on Food Stamp Recipients
In response to a federal lawsuit, the Agriculture Department said it would refrain, for now, from demanding that states turn over the personal information of people receiving assistance.
www.nytimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
41% of more than 2,200 registered voters said the US Dept of Ed should receive *more* funding, including 18% of GOP voters who want funding to remain the same & 31% who would increase.

www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Survey shows voters want to preserve Ed Department funding
A clear majority of voters supports preserving or increasing funding for the Department of Education, according to a new poll from Morning Consult.
www.insidehighered.com
February 25, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Glad to have had the change to connect with @katiephang.bsky.social @katiephangshow.bsky.social to talk about DOGE's access to sensitive student data at the U.S. Department of Education and our lawsuit with @publiccitizen.bsky.social
"We want to make sure that the Department of Education is following the law and treating that information with the security and privacy interests at stake." Daniel Zibel on the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education."
February 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
"The Department of Education collects student data with the promise to keep it safe." Daniel Zibel from Student Defense. "We don't know what [DOGE is] doing with that information."
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
One of the DOGE employees with access to sensitive data has not yet completed required ethics and information security trainings, DOGE team member Adam Ramada admitted in the filing.
Per a new court filing, there are 6 DOGE staffers working in the Education Department (for 2 of them, it's their "home agency," while the other 4 are on detail from other agencies).

This sworn DOGE statement, appearing to admit they have access to sensitive data, caught my eye:
February 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
NEW: One of the 6 people from "DOGE" at Ed "has not yet completed ethics or information security trainings." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
DOGE Worker at Education Department Has Ethics, IT Training Gap
Six people are carrying out the work of Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting group at the US Department of Education, though one of them hasn’t completed ethics or information security training, accord...
www.bloomberg.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
And what about federal student aid dollars (student loans/grants) - which are paid by the government to the school? This should have heads (students and colleges) spinning.

Confusing at best. What. A. Mess.
January 28, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
Freshman enrollment didn't decrease this year after all, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center said tonight.

www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Freshmen enrollment up this fall; data error led to miscount
Freshmen enrollment did not decline this fall, as previously reported in the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s annual enrollment report in October.
www.insidehighered.com
January 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Reposted by Dan Zibel
Several high-profile and controversial Biden regs died today. Here’s our recap:

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Biden scraps debt relief plans, other regs
The Education Department also withdrew its controversial rule regarding the participation of transgender student athletes in sports that align with their gender identity.
www.insidehighered.com
December 20, 2024 at 8:21 PM