New FAFSA form creates chaos! College admissions delayed due to glitches. Education Dept. works on fixes. Will low-income students be most affected?

1. Education Secretary Faces
Heat Over Student Aid Woes
During Capitol Hill Appearance
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Source – The New York Times
Miguel A. Cardona, the U.S. Secretary of Education, found himself under intense scrutiny as he testified
before lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding his agency’s funding requests for the upcoming year.
However, instead of focusing solely on budget matters, the hearing took a sharp turn as both Republican
and Democratic members raised concerns about the tumultuous college admissions process caused by
issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Republicans, in particular, grilled Secretary Cardona about the mishandling of the new FAFSA form
rollout, which has thrown this year’s college admissions process into disarray. Questions centered around
whether resources had been diverted away from critical projects to prioritize the administration’s efforts to
address student loan debt cancellation.
Secretary Cardona, addressing the House Appropriations Committee, defended his agency’s actions,
stating that resolving the FAFSA form issues was a top priority. He assured lawmakers that despite
challenges, the Department of Education was diligently working on rectifying the problems around the
clock.

2. FAFSA Glitches Disrupt College Aid
Simultaneously, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a
separate hearing where bipartisan lawmakers expressed deep concern over the impact of FAFSA form
glitches on prospective college students. Justin Draeger of the National Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators highlighted the broader implications, describing the situation as a “crisis of credibility”
for the Department of Education.
Draeger further elaborated on additional issues affecting the accuracy of financial records sent to schools,
rendering a significant portion of data unusable for aid calculations. These technical glitches have led to
delays in colleges and universities providing crucial financial information to students, affecting enrollment
decisions and financial planning.
Rachelle Feldman from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, testified that her institution had yet
to send official aid offers to accepted students, a process typically completed alongside acceptance letters
by March’s end. Delays in aid offers could compel students to enroll elsewhere before receiving critical
financial aid information.
FAFSA Challenges and Calls for Equity
Despite ongoing challenges, the Education Department has maintained regular updates on progress through
its “fast news” page, aiming to reprocess faulty records by May 1. Department officials claim major bugs
in the FAFSA form have been addressed, and application processing times have improved, with most
applications now processed within one to three days.
Secretary Cardona emphasized that while this year’s FAFSA issues are regrettable, the simplified new
form will benefit future applicants. Democrats echoed concerns about the potential impact on low-income
and first-generation students, highlighting the importance of streamlining aid processes to ensure equitable
access to higher education.
The hearing underscored the urgency of addressing FAFSA-related challenges to maintain trust in federal
student aid programs and alleviate hardships for students navigating the complex college admissions
landscape. As Secretary Cardona navigates these pressing issues, the spotlight remains on ensuring a fair
and accessible higher education system for all.