Palmetto State News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) 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 problematic rollout, calls for the Department of Education (ED) to identify and rectify any issues for this year, and requests that leaders testify before congressional committees regarding the rollout.

FAFSA historically opens applications on October 1 of the year prior to the start of the academic school year. For the academic year of 2024-2025, applications opened three months later in December. ED subsequently did not start sending FAFSA data to universities until March. Due to this delay, many students did not receive their financial aid awards until after May 1, 2024, which is when many institutions require students to commit to attending for the fall semester.

For the academic year of 2025-2026, ED has already announced that applications will again be delayed until December of this year.

“Higher education has been a key in many Americans’ path to their American Dream. Unfortunately, the futures of thousands of Americans are being delayed under the Biden-Harris administration as a result of their extreme policies,” said Senator Scott. “The Biden-Harris administration’s student loan giveaway has pushed FAFSA out of focus and added yet another obstacle for lower-income and minority students to reach their dreams. Unlocking access to a better future tends to start with access to education. I am glad to be on the front lines fighting for the interest of American students and families and taking the necessary steps to right the wrongs of this administration for next year.”

“Students and parents must be able to make an informed decision about where they’re attending college before the decision deadline,” said Senator Rounds. “A big piece of this decision is considering how much college will cost them and knowing how much aid they’ll get to help. It’s unacceptable that the Department of Education’s botched FAFSA rollout has hurt America’s students and institutions of higher education. My colleagues and I strongly condemn this massive failure and call on the Department of Education to take necessary steps to fix FAFSA for this next school year.”

Senators Scott and Rounds were joined on this resolution by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Click HERE for the full resolution.