The U.S. Department of Education today announced that Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and former Acting U.S. Secretary of Education Denise Carter will retire after more than 30 years in public service.
“Throughout her distinguished career in public service, Ms. Carter has showcased a willingness to take on challenging roles. Prior to my arrival to the Department, she served as a pivotal leader – lending unparalleled expertise to incoming officials including myself,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “On behalf of the entire Department, we thank Ms. Carter for her guidance throughout this transition and wish her all the best moving forward.”
For more than three decades, Ms. Carter has served as a mentor and key advisor to staff across the federal government and is known for her ability to calmly navigate change and uncertainty. In April 2024, she was tapped to lead FSA through the FAFSA crisis under the prior administration and supported the incoming Trump Administration leadership through the transition.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served our country for the past three decades, especially the last twelve years at the Department of Education,” said former Acting FSA Chief Operating Officer Denise Carter. “As I move on, I hope we as a nation commit to ensuring every student has the support needed to achieve extraordinary educational outcomes. The economic strength of our nation depends on their success.”
Denise Carter has served as Acting Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid since July 2024 and was appointed as Acting U.S. Secretary of Education on January 20, 2025. She also served as the head of the Office of Finance and Operations for several years. Prior to her appointment with the Department of Education, she served in multiple leadership roles at the Department of Health and Human Services, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer.
Starting today, Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron will serve as Acting Chief Operating Officer for FSA.