washington u.s. consumer financial watchdog thursday attempt repel trump-administration attack former president barack obama sweep student loan reform defend republican attempt weaken power lengthy letter education secretary betsy devos consumer financial protection bureau cfpb say comply remit despite department charge contrary education department announce last week would long work bureau resolve student loan complaints say complicate lend process potentially inaccurate inconsistent directives say consumer bureau create 2007-09 financial crisis protect individuals predatory lend honor agreement promptly refer complaints department use department data expand jurisdiction areas congress never envision obama-appointed head watchdog democrat richard cordray say bureau share complaint information near real-time on-line portal department exceed authority fulfil mission federal law monitor respond individuals complaints debts well enforce federal consumer law cordray write congress create bureau part mediate consumers credit card company bank mortgage providers lenders dispute go beyond mere territory fight republicans revile cfpb say reach far rule enforcement accountable lawmakers democrats say help ensure fair treatment middle-class people unable fight fraud republicans also disapprove obama attempt make college affordable move almost 1.4 trillion student-loan industry federal government currently service handle outside education department last year elections trump fellow republicans promise get government business lend devos work return much process private sector also want redo obama-era regulations protections sexual-assault victims college campuses devos critics consider department split cfpb way protect for-profit school debt collectors servicers government intervention early year bureau receive nearly 20,000 complaints student loan servicers since february 2016 sue country large servicer navient corp systematically fail borrowers navient dispute allegations contest court u.s. consumer agency defend student loan reform republican attack