Slotkin urges DeVos to aid federal employees with student debt during shutdown

Freshman U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to "proactively" reach out to student loan providers to encourage special dispensation for federal employees affected by the partial government shutdown.

In a Tuesday letter, Slotkin, a Holly Democrat, urged the U.S. Department of Education to do "everything in its power to ease the burden of student loan payments on all federal employees," including urging loan providers to tell borrowers about refinancing options.

Other Michigan reps joined 70 Democratic colleagues, led by Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, in sending a similar letter to DeVos: Reps. Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, Andy Levin of Bloomfield Township and Haley Stevens of Rochester Hills.