Janaki Mehta
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
The faces of Catherine Beecher, who fought for women's education, and Booker T. Washington, who advocated for the educational rights of Black people, hang alongside an image of the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk promoted conservative politics on college campuses, including on the day he was shot last year at Utah Valley University.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education tells NPR, quote, we are proud to honor visionary leaders whose contributions have shaped the future of education for generations.
The inclusion of Charlie Kirk alongside historically significant educators
has sparked criticism, including from those who point out that Kirk called for abolishing the very Department of Education that is honoring him.
The new report, which comes from the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers,
says student loan delinquency has spiked to a record 25 percent of borrowers.
And those considered delinquent, meaning students who've been late on their payments, have seen their credit scores go down by an average of 57 points.
The report blames the Trump administration's policies for blocking borrowers from, quote, accessing the income-driven repayment plans they're legally entitled to.
that and the increasing cost of living in this country.
In response, the Trump administration told NPR it has been, quote, reporting full inaccurate data on student loan repayment instead of extending so-called flexibilities related to a pandemic that ended five years ago.
The new report, which comes from the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers, says student loan delinquency has spiked to a record 25 percent of borrowers.
And those considered delinquent, meaning students who've been late on their payments, have seen their credit scores go down by an average of 57 points.
The report blames the Trump administration's policies for blocking borrowers from, quote, accessing the income-driven repayment plans they're legally entitled to.
That and the increasing cost of living in this country.
In response, the Trump administration told NPR it has been, quote, reporting full inaccurate data on student loan repayment instead of extending so-called flexibilities related to a pandemic that ended five years ago.
The Trump administration had asked school leaders in all 50 states to submit letters certifying their schools wouldn't promote DEI programs. If they refused, the administration said schools would risk losing federal money, including Title I, which is aimed at low-income students around the country. Today was the deadline for state and local leaders to submit responses to the federal government.