Austin News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) criticized the Biden administration for the delays and problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. Senator Cornyn's remarks came on College Decision Day, highlighting the challenges faced by students in accessing financial aid packages.

Cornyn expressed his frustration, stating, “Despite today being College Decision Day, many Texas students and other students across the country are still waiting for their financial aid packages. They should have had this information weeks ago, even months ago.”

He attributed the issues to the administration, saying, “The fault doesn’t lie with the students or the colleges, but rather the administration, which completely bungled the FAFSA process this year.”

The Senator highlighted the delayed availability of FAFSA, noting, “The FAFSA is typically available on October 1. This cycle, it wasn’t available until the end of December – nearly three months behind schedule. But once it went live, the problems had just begun. Applicants reported website crashes, system errors, and lengthy processing times.”

Furthermore, Cornyn raised concerns about the significant drop in FAFSA submissions from Texas students, stating, “The Biden Education Department says that FAFSA submissions by Texas students alone are down by more than 40 percent – 40 percent – over last year. This is a scandal.”

He emphasized the impact of the FAFSA issues on students and institutions, saying, “The ripple effects of the FAFSA fiasco are felt not only by students but by colleges and universities across the nation.”

In conclusion, Senator Cornyn called for accountability and transparency, declaring, “Texas students, and students across the country, and the American people at large deserve a full explanation about how we ended up at this mess, and we will keep fighting for answers and accountability until we get those answers.”