Savanna Hoffman
There is a common misconception that the children of US Congress members do not have to pay back their student loans. This claim gained traction in 2011, with many people citing Fox News as the source of the story. However, this is false. While it is true that some congressional employees are eligible to have their student loans repaid, this does not apply to members of Congress or their families. In fact, 10% of Congress members are paying back student loans, and many have taken on student debt to support their family members.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do kids of Congress members have to pay student loans? | Yes |
| Are there any exemptions? | No |
| Do Congress members have student loans? | Yes |
| Do Congressional staffers have to pay student loans? | Yes |
| Are Congressional staffers eligible for student loan repayment assistance? | Yes |
| Are Congressional staffers' family members eligible for student loan repayment assistance? | No |
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What You'll Learn
Do kids of Congress members have to pay student loans?
There seems to be a lot of confusion on the topic of student loan repayment for members of Congress and their families. The confusion appears to stem from a 2010 Fox News broadcast, which claimed that members of Congress and their families are exempt from repaying their student loans. This claim was then repeated and spread further by a viral chain email. However, this claim is false.
Members of Congress and their families are not exempt from repaying their student loans. They have to pay back their loans like everyone else. Only some congressional employees are eligible to have a portion of their student loans repaid, and only after several years of service. This is a benefit offered by federal agencies to a small number of government workers as a recruitment or retention incentive. The benefit is not exclusive to Congress but is available to employees across 34 federal agencies.
In 2018, it was reported that 10% of Congress members were paying back student loans. For example, California Representative Ro Khanna listed $50,000 in student loans, and Florida Congressman Darren Soto also had outstanding student loan debt. In addition, some members of Congress have taken on student debt to support their family members. For example, Republican congressman Trey Gowdy reported owing over $150,000 in student loans taken out to finance his child's education.
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What did Fox News say about Congress members and student loans?
In 2011, Fox News reported that members of Congress, their staffers, and their family members do not have to pay back their student loans. This claim was also made in a viral email that was sent to FactCheck.org and PolitiFact. However, this claim is false. While some congressional employees are eligible to have their student loans repaid, this does not apply to members of Congress or their families.
The confusion appears to stem from remarks made by Fox News political contributor Dick Morris on "The Sean Hannity Show" on August 23, 2010. Morris misrepresented the student loan repayment program, stating that staff in the House of Representatives and the Senate do not pay back their student loans. His comments were then further distorted and spread as fact via the viral email.
In reality, the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program is a discretionary benefit offered by federal agencies to select employees as an aid in hiring and retaining highly qualified employees. The program is not limited to Congress but is used by many different federal government agencies. It does not provide full loan forgiveness and does not apply to everyone who works for the agencies. Congressional staffers are eligible for a similar assistance program, but members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children are not.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are no provisions under Title IV (federal student aid programs) that provide loan forgiveness for Members of Congress or their families or staff beyond what any other borrower would be eligible for. Members of Congress are specifically exempted from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which was created by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
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Are there any student loan repayment programs for federal workers?
Members of Congress and their families are not exempt from repaying student loans. However, some full-time congressional staffers are eligible for a student loan repayment program that helps pay back a portion of their student loans.
There are student loan repayment programs for federal workers. The Federal Student Loan Repayment Program is a discretionary benefit that can be offered by federal agencies to select employees as an aid in hiring and retaining highly qualified personnel. The program is intended to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly-qualified employees by allowing agencies to repay part or all of their federally insured student loans. Federal agencies have discretion to make student loan payments up to certain limits on behalf of employees. The maximum repayment amount is $10,000 per employee per calendar year, with a total of not more than $60,000 for any one employee.
To be eligible for the federal employee student loan repayment program, employees must be highly qualified and interested in working at a government agency. The program is not accessible to everyone working full-time in the public sector. Employees who receive this benefit must sign a service agreement to remain in the service of the paying agency for a minimum period of three years.
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What is the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program?
There is no evidence that the children of US Congress members are exempt from paying back their student loans. In fact, several sources explicitly state that members of Congress, their families, and staff are not exempt from repaying student loans. However, some full-time congressional staffers are eligible to participate in a student loan repayment program that helps pay back a portion of their student loans. This program is not unique to Congress and is available to other federal government agencies.
Now, let's talk about the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program in detail. The program permits federal agencies to repay federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified personnel. This means that if a federal agency wants to attract or retain a particular employee, it can offer to help pay their student loans. In exchange, the employee typically agrees to work for the agency for a minimum period, usually three years. The payments made by the agency are considered a form of income for the employee, and they pay taxes on them.
The Federal Student Loan Repayment Program is not available to everyone who works for the participating federal agencies, and it does not forgive student loans in full. Agencies have the discretion to make loan payments up to certain limits, and there may be eligibility criteria to consider. For example, in a calendar year, an agency may pay a maximum of $10,000 towards an employee's loan and a total of not more than $60,000 for any one employee.
The program is intended to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified employees. It is a discretionary benefit, and not all federal agencies may need or choose to utilize it. Agencies that implement the program must develop a plan describing how it will be carried out. They are also required to report annually to the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on their use of the program, including the number of employees who received benefits, their job classifications, and the cost to the federal government.
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Do any members of Congress have student loans?
There is no evidence that members of Congress, their families, or staff are exempt from repaying student loans. Claims that members of Congress do not have to pay back student loans are false. In 2018, 10% of Congress members were paying back student loans, amounting to a total of $1.8 million in student loans. For example, California Representative Ro Khanna listed $50,000 in student loans, and Florida Congressman Darren Soto also had student loans.
Congressional staffers are eligible for a student loan repayment program that helps pay back a portion of student loans. However, this program does not apply to members of Congress or their families. The program permits agencies to repay federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees, with a maximum of $10,000 per employee per calendar year and a total of no more than $60,000 for any one employee.
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Frequently asked questions
No, kids of Congress members are not exempt from paying back student loans. However, some full-time congressional staffers are eligible for a student loan repayment program that helps pay back a portion of student loans.
Out of 530 voting members of Congress, 53 listed owing a total of $1.8 million in student loans in their financial disclosures.
Yes, Congressional staffers do have to pay back student loans. However, some may be eligible for a student loan repayment program.
