On Tuesday, in front of a congressional committee, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressed regret for the significant delays that made financial aid harder to access for some students this year. Amidst bipartisan concern from lawmakers about potential future issues, Cardona acknowledged the difficulties faced by families during this admissions cycle.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona issued an apology to students and families for the setbacks in the financial aid process as lawmakers from both parties voiced apprehensions about the possibility of recurring problems in the upcoming admissions period.
At a congressional hearing, Cardona reported that most issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have been addressed. Despite millions of successful submissions, he admitted that the congressionally mandated updates to the FAFSA, crucial for students seeking federal financial assistance for college, have been both “frustrating” and “challenging.”
“I apologize to the students and families that have had to deal with delays,” he stated during the hearing.
Recent glitches and data discrepancies have disrupted the usual timeline for colleges to send out financial boost offers. Under pressure to rectify these issues, the department has now improved processing times for FAFSAs to one to three days, with the majority of colleges having dispatched financial aid packages to students. The senior official in charge of college financial aid announced his resignation at the end of June, following these developments.
Amidst ongoing concerns, Cardona’s earlier assurances at a previous hearing that the next FAFSA form would launch on time are now under scrutiny. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers challenged this optimism, highlighting the absence of a draft FAFSA version which is typically released in February or March for public comment. They have pressed the department for greater transparency and urged an immediate discussion about preparations for the next admissions cycle.
“In the interest of ensuring a smooth FAFSA rollout for students and families next cycle, we insist on full transparency from you and your staff,” the lawmakers demanded.