Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, along with other lawmakers, has requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, aimed to make financial aid more accessible by streamlining the application process. However, the Department of Education (Education) failed to properly implement the program, causing delays for students and families in accessing crucial financial aid for college.
Despite having three years to prepare for the FAFSA rollout, Education made the application available for only 30 minutes on December 30th before taking it down. It was then live for only one additional hour on December 31st, and only accessible sporadically until it became fully live on January 6th, days after the Congress-set deadline. This delay has forced high school counselors to postpone financial aid information sessions, and counselors are now rushing to help students and families navigate the new FAFSA process.
The delayed timeline also means that colleges cannot provide students with financial aid offers, leaving students with less time and information to compare packages and choose the best college option. The lawmakers are concerned that these complications and delays may cause some low-income students, who are most dependent on federal aid, to give up on pursuing postsecondary education.
In addition to the delays, the lawmakers are questioning Education's efforts in providing sufficient information and guidance on the new FAFSA form and process. The goal of FAFSA simplification was to make the process easier for students and their families, but initial feedback suggests that Education's current outreach efforts are falling short.
Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Cassidy are joined by several representatives and senators in their call for an investigation into the FAFSA rollout. They seek information on how Education is addressing the issues and ensuring that students can access and submit FAFSA to their prospective colleges in a timely manner.
It is crucial that the Biden administration takes immediate action to rectify the botched FAFSA rollout and prevent future complications. Students and schools should not be left in limbo when it comes to accessing financial aid for higher education.
