In Case You Missed It, the Biden-Harris Department of Education (ED) recently released guidance warning schools against “misrepresentation” about the nature of their educational programs. While schools should be honest and transparent with their students, the Committee urges ED to get its own house in order first, preferably before it decides to spend more resources on more red tape.
The guidance goes on to list multiple examples of potential “misrepresentation,” including schools making misleading statements about rankings, salary information, job placement rates, or cost of attendance.
Well… sure, but it’s a bit rich coming from the most serial mis-representer in the Biden-Haris administration. In case ED forgot, there are numerous counter examples of FAFSA misrepresentation to the American people. ED:
- Presented a FAFSA completion time of under 30 minutes, but it did not reflect the days, weeks, or months it took actual students.
- Stated or implied students would have their call picked up if they phoned the call center. Four million calls went unanswered.
- Misled over 430,000 students into thinking postsecondary education wasn't for them and not filing out the FAFSA at all.
- Advertised an inaccurate net price to students thanks to wrong aid eligibility data, complicating financial decisions for families and putting students at risk of dropping out.
With the already two month-delayed December 1st "release date” for the 2025-26 FAFSA fast approaching, ED has yet to prove it can execute a smooth rollout. The last thing American students and families need is another academic year spent worrying about college affordability because their FAFSA isn’t working.
One step ED could take to show its trustworthiness is issue a moratorium on new regulatory actions until the FAFSA is open and available to all. Doing so would prove to the American people that ED’s priorities are in the right place.
What’s it going to be, ED? More rules, more regulations, and more student loan scams? Or a renewed commitment to the core functions of the Department? Only time will tell, but the Committee isn’t holding its breath.
