JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Navy veteran is sounding the alarm, warning that veterans could be left defenseless against predatory colleges and lending practices without the Department of Education.
Michelle Poitier testified at a Department of Education public hearing on Monday.
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She says she was misled by the for-profit University of Phoenix, racking up nearly $30,000 in student loan debt without realizing it.
“I enrolled with dreams of obtaining a six-figure future only to continue the struggle that I started with, including crushing debt,” Poitier said.
“I share this testimony as a warning as a war cry. No student veteran should be deceived or defrauded under the flag they once served. I’ve seen fellow veterans lose homes, marriages and even their will to try and some have lost their lives because of situations like this. The recent staffing cuts at the Department of Education don’t just shrink a budget, they shrink access, they shrink equity, and they shrink opportunity for our veterans.”
Her loans were eventually forgiven, but only after intervention from the same Department of Education staffers now being dismantled.
Poitier said those cuts will leave future veterans vulnerable to scams that waste their GI Bill benefits and leave them saddled with debt.
“Education is a lifeline for those that are transitioning from service to civilian life, and we must, must, all of us, ensure that that pathway is protected, not just paved over. Because this isn’t just about policy. This is personal. You know, we’re individuals. We have lives. We fought for our country,” Poitier told News4JAX.
Advocates say oversight teams within the Education Department are often the last line of defense for student veteran and eliminating them could open the door for more abuse.