The Department of Education issued fresh guidance this week urging colleges to adopt ‘‘best practices’’ to lower student-loan default rates ahead of major federal changes scheduled for summer. The agency warned institutions that persistent default problems could jeopardize access to federal aid, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny. The guidance frames universities as on-the-hook for borrower outcomes even as broader policy shifts limit relief options for affected students. Senate Democrats responded by asking the Government Accountability Office to investigate apparent dismantling within the Education Department, escalating a partisan fight over administrative direction and oversight. Democratic senators contend personnel and organizational changes at ED could undercut enforcement and consumer protections; they want GAO to document changes to oversight that might affect institutional accountability and borrower safeguards. For campus leaders, this twin push—operational guidance plus congressional probes—raises immediate compliance and reporting risks. Institutions should review default-reduction practices, bolster borrower outreach and prepare for heightened documentation requests from both ED and congressional oversight bodies.