Calling the CFPB a crucial watchdog of student loan servicers,some 39 congressional Democrats are pressing Education SecretaryBetsy DeVos to again share servicer information with the consumeragency.

“Contrary to the department’s assertion, Congress has notexempted companies that service or collect on federal student loansfrom any consumer financial protection law,” the Democrats,including ranking members of banking and education committees,wrote.

Several weeks ago, the Education Department sent a letter toCFPB Director Richard Cordray stating that it no longer would shareservicer information with the agency. Education officials contendedthe agency had unilaterally expanded its powers over servicers. Theletter stated the Education Department has sole authority over thestudent loan programs.

The letter represents another shot at the CFPB by the TrumpAdministration, which has called for the agency’s powers to begreatly decreased. The House has also passed Financial ServicersChairman Jeb Hensarling’s (R-Texas) Financial CHOICE Act, whichwould curtail the agency’s powers.

The CFPB said since it began accepting complaints about studentloan servicers in February 2016, the agency has received nearly20,000 complaints.

In their letter, the Democrats said while the EducationDepartment has the authority to administer the federal student loanprograms, the authority is not exclusive and has “intentionallyconstrained by law due to the department’s historical negligence incarrying out many of its oversight responsibilities over federalstudent loan servicers.”

Democrats have also accused DeVos of rolling back efforts toassist students having trouble with the loan programs.

For his part, Cordray sent a letter last week to DeVos statingthe Higher Education Act does not supersede consumer protectionlaws. He said Dodd-Frank directed the CFPB’s student loan ombudsmanto enter into a memorandum of understanding with the EducationDepartment.

“Indeed, prior to last week’s letter, the department has neverexpressed any concerns about the MOU or the handling of studentloan servicers,” he wrote.

He added, “For years, our agencies have worked collaborativelyand the bureau has never knowingly taken any actions in conflictwith the department’s regulations or instructions toservicers.”