Steil Calls on Biden Administration to Get FAFSA Program Working Again

Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2024) - Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) today called on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray to repair the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process so millions of students and their families can plan how to fund their education.  

For years, the FAFSA process has operated smoothly, but now delays caused by mismanagement are causing undue confusion and difficulty for applicants. It is crucial the Department of Education (ED) take the necessary steps to fix the system to give schools and students ample opportunity to prepare and accept financial aid offers.   

The request follows ED’s announcement that FAFSA forms would not be available to students until December 31, 2023, due to an effort to simplify and modernize the process. Congress had already provided a reasonable timeline for the department to roll out the new FAFSA. ED failed to meet that deadline.  

Three months past the deadline, the Department of Education finally issued a “soft launch” of the new FAFSA. Unfortunately, technical problems led to many applicants struggling to access or complete the new form. The department also forgot to revise its formula for determining financial aid eligibility to account for inflation, resulting in a $1.8 billion shortfall. Remedying this critical issue has led to an additional month-long delay. 

In the letter, Rep. Steil stated “[t]he continuing delays from the Department of Education, on a program that has operated smoothly for years, are causing undo confusion and difficulty for the millions of students currently determining how to fund their education. I ask that you and your agency take every step possible to get this program operating smoothly once again.”   

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.  

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