To protect taxpayer dollars, the Education Dept. is disproportionately auditing Black and Latino college students
Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, John D. Harden
Jun Cen for The Washington Post
For at least the last decade, the Education Department has disproportionately selected students from majority Black and Latino neighborhoods to provide further proof that the information on their financial aid application is accurate, according to an analysis of federal data by The Washington Post.
It is a seemingly innocuous request, one meant to reduce fraud and improper payments. But like any government audit, verification — as the process is known — can be a time-consuming, invasive experience primarily visited on the poor.