Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), along with 26 lawmakers requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administration’s failure to properly implement the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, delaying students and families’ access to crucial financial aid for college. 

The bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act passed in 2020 with the intention of making financial aid more accessible for all students by streamlining the application process. The legislation required the Department of Education (Education) to roll out the FAFSA program by January 1st, 2024. Despite having three years to prepare for the FAFSA rollout, Education only made the application available for borrowers for a mere 30 minutes on December 30th before taking it down and then making it live for only one additional hour on December 31st. The application was then only accessible for sporadic periods until it became fully live on Saturday, January 6th, days after the deadline set by Congress.  

On top of these complications, FAFSA has normally been available for students on October 1st. The delayed timeline along with Education’s setbacks forced high school counselors to postpone financial aid information sessions and counselors are now rushing to connect with students and families to help them navigate through the new FAFSA process. Additionally, these setbacks mean colleges cannot provide students with financial aid offers, giving students less time and less information to compare financial aid packages and choose the best college option.  

The lawmakers seek information as to how Education is addressing the issues in the FAFSA rollout to prevent future complications and ensure students can access and submit FAFSA to their prospective colleges in a timely manner. 

“However, repeated delays from the Department of Education (Education) in rolling out the new FAFSA have left students and schools in limbo for the upcoming school year,” wrote the lawmakers. “All these challenges and delays may cause some students—particularly low-income students who are most dependent on federal aid—to give up and not pursue postsecondary education.”
 
“Beyond the initial delays, it is also unclear whether Education is providing students and schools with sufficient information and guidance on the new FAFSA form and process,” continued the lawmakers. “The goal of FAFSA simplification was in part to make the whole process easier for students and their families...However, initial feedback from students and schools indicates that Education’s current outreach efforts are falling short.” 

Foxx and Cassidy are joined by U.S. Representatives Rick Allen (R-GA), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Lisa McClain (R-MI), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Brandon Williams (R-NY). They are also joined by U.S. Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and J.D. Vance (R-OH).

Read the full letter here. 

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