Ranking Member Cassidy Sounds Alarm over Biden Admin Delaying FAFSA Information, Harming Students’ Access to Financial Aid
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a statement following the Biden administration’s announcement that it will delay the transmission of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information to colleges and universities until mid-March. The transmission of FAFSA information to schools was supposed to begin by late January.
The Department of Education (DeptEd) failed to properly implement the new FAFSA program by the legally required deadline of January 1st despite having three years to prepare. This means students will hear back from colleges and universities about their acceptance with no financial aid information to make their decision.
“I recently met with several leaders of Louisiana colleges who independently told me they are concerned about FAFSA. This rollout has been a disaster,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Department of Education had three years to prepare the rollout of the updated FAFSA. Their inability to do their job has real consequences for students and families. These unacceptable delays from the Biden administration creates the real likelihood that many students will forgo college because they cannot choose a school without knowing their eligibility for student aid.”
DeptEd’s delays in implementing FAFSA 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 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.
Recently, Cassidy and 27 Republican lawmakers submitted a bicameral request to the Government Accountability Office for a formal investigation into DeptEd’s incompetent mishandling of FAFSA and the full impact on students and families.
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