Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Virginia Foxx - Chairwoman of the Education and the Workforce committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) criticized the Biden administration for allegedly obstructing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the administration’s handling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. Foxx and Cassidy had previously requested GAO to investigate issues with the Department of Education's rollout of FAFSA, citing problems with information technology systems that contributed to delays.
Since GAO began its investigation earlier this year, the Department of Education has reportedly failed to provide requested information as required by federal law. According to GAO, investigators met with department officials multiple times and offered accommodations to help gather relevant documents. Despite these efforts, GAO stated that many requested items remain unprovided. These delays have reportedly impacted GAO’s progress and its ability to meet its expected timeframe for issuing findings this summer ahead of the fall FAFSA cycle.
A recent report revealed that Department of Education staff warned the Biden transition team in 2020 about significant challenges in implementing technical changes in the new FAFSA program by the original 2023-2024 cycle deadline. The report suggested senior administration officials did not prioritize these concerns adequately, focusing instead on other initiatives such as student loan forgiveness plans.
Foxx and Cassidy are demanding compliance from the Department of Education with GAO’s requests for documents related to their investigation.
“Instead of owning up to its mistake, the Biden administration is hiding evidence relating to its botched FAFSA rollout from Congress and the American people,” wrote Foxx and Cassidy. “GAO is investigating the FAFSA rollout at our request, and by stonewalling, the Department is interfering with our ability to carry out our constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities.”
“The Department’s ongoing failure to comply with GAO’s requests is unacceptable," continued Foxx and Cassidy. “Accordingly, please produce all records that GAO has requested in connection with its investigation no later than June 7, 2024.”
Read the full letter here.
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