A conservative watchdog group is calling on House leadership to take action against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, alleging she has defaulted on federally backed student loans while serving in Congress.
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) sent a letter Friday to Mike Johnson, urging him to direct the House’s Chief Administrative Officer to garnish Omar’s congressional salary if the claims are substantiated.
The Allegations
In its letter, the AAF alleges that Omar, who earns $174,000 annually as a member of Congress, is in collection proceedings related to federal student loans. According to the group, her financial disclosure forms indicate she owes between $15,001 and $50,000 in student loan debt backed by the federal government.
AAF President Thomas Jones argued that if a federally guaranteed loan goes into default, taxpayers could ultimately bear the cost.
“The fact that someone making $174,000 as a Member of Congress cannot pay their student loans is unconscionable,” Jones wrote in the letter.
The organization also claims it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking any correspondence between Omar and the U.S. Department of Education related to her loans.
Call For Salary Garnishment
In what would be an unusual step, the watchdog group asked Speaker Johnson to instruct House administrators to withhold Omar’s salary and direct payments to Nelnet, the loan servicer, until any alleged arrears are resolved.
Such action would be highly uncommon and could raise legal and constitutional questions regarding separation of powers and employment protections for elected officials.
As of publication, Omar’s office had not issued a public response to the allegations.
Political Context
Omar has been one of Congress’s most outspoken advocates for broad student debt cancellation, frequently framing the issue as one of economic justice and systemic reform. Critics argue that if she is personally in default while advocating for loan forgiveness policies, it could present a potential conflict of interest.
AAF has previously filed ethics complaints and conducted financial investigations involving Democratic lawmakers, stating that elected officials should be held to strict standards regarding personal finances and public trust.
Previous Financial Scrutiny
Omar’s financial disclosures have drawn attention in past years. In 2023, financial analytics firm Quiver Quantitative reported shifts in her reported assets and liabilities over time, noting increases in disclosed assets alongside reported debts, including credit card balances and student loans.
It is important to note that disclosure of debt ranges does not necessarily indicate default status. Federal student loans can be in repayment, deferment, forbearance, or other structured programs without being in default. As of now, no official documentation from the Department of Education confirming default status has been publicly released.
What Happens Next?
Whether House leadership takes any formal action remains uncertain. Salary garnishment for a sitting member of Congress would likely require clear legal authority and verified documentation.
For now, the matter centers on the watchdog group’s claims and pending records requests. Without confirmation from federal agencies or Omar’s office, the allegations remain disputed.
Further updates are expected if documentation from the Department of Education or an official response from Omar becomes available.
