WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Education has begun notifying some former Corinthian Colleges students that it will forgive only one-half or less of their federal student loans, even though the students were defrauded by the now-defunct schools, The Associated Press has learned.

The action is part of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' push to ease regulations governing for-profit schools. DeVos says she wants to protect taxpayers' money, but critics say the Trump administration has deep ties to for-profit colleges and is putting industry interests ahead of students.

Two weeks ago, Sarah Dief...