Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Mike Rounds, along with 17 Senate GOP colleagues, introduced a resolution criticizing the Biden-Harris Administration's handling of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout for the 2024-2025 school year. The resolution condemns the issues associated with the rollout, urges the U.S. Department of Education to address these problems, and calls for officials to testify before congressional committees.

The resolution states: "Whereas the FAFSA Simplification Act was intended to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid simpler and easier to complete for the 2024–2025 academic year; Whereas the Department of Education reported on May 24, 2024, that it had processed more than 10,000,000 FAFSA applications for the 2024–2025 academic year; Whereas, in previous years, the FAFSA application for an academic year opened on October 1st of the preceding year; Whereas the 2024–2025 FAFSA launched on December 31, 2023; Whereas, in previous years, the Department sent out student FAFSA data to institutions of higher education just days after the student filed their FAFSA application; Whereas, for the 2024–2025 school year, the Department did not start sending student FAFSA data to institutions of higher education until the beginning of March; Whereas many students did not receive financial aid awards until after National College Decision Day on May 1, 2024."

It continues: "Whereas Department officials were aware of implementation challenges associated with the rollout of the FAFSA Simplification Act as early as December 2020; Whereas students in pursuit of attending institutions of higher education across United States depend on resources made available by FAFSA; Whereas delays have been particularly burdensome for students in foster care and youth experiencing homelessness; Whereas delay cut down time students had to weigh options when considering financial components for attending institutions of higher education."

The resolution concludes by stating: "Resolved, That Senate—(1) strongly condemns delayed and problematic rollout of FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII division FF Public Law 116-260); (2) calls for Department Education take necessary actions identify issues led botched rollout fix them cycle; (3) urges Secretary Education testify relevant congressional committees regarding rollout."

The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN.), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis(R-NC) and Roger Wicker(R-MS).

Historically, FAFSA applications have opened on October 1. For academic year 2024-25 they opened three months later in December. The Department began sending data to universities in March. As a result many students received financial aid awards after May1.

For academic year 2025-26 ED has announced applications will again be delayed until December.