In fiscal 2008 the Department of Justice provided student loan repayment benefits to 2,610 employees totaling over $23.4 million, making it the leader among agencies, OPM has said in its annual report on the federal student loan repayment program.
Under the program agencies may pay up to $10,000 a year up to a total of $60,000 in return for a three-year service commitment that if not completed, requires repayment on the part of the employee.
Justice used the program mostly for 2,391 FBI employees — 1,013 special agents, 448 intelligence analysts, and 137 employees in the inspection, investigation, and compliance series.
Government-wide 35 agencies provided $51 million to 6,879 employees, a 4 percent increase over fiscal 2007 and an average payment of $7,511.
The program is most widely used for criminal investigators, 1,020, followed by attorneys, 655 (mostly at Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission), intelligence positions, administration and nurses.
Following Justice, agencies most often making use of the program are DoD, Health and Human Services, State, SEC, and GAO.