High Country Times

Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx has expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. Department of Education's announcement regarding the release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). According to Foxx, the form will be available over 50 days later than expected.

"Let’s be clear about this: the FAFSA form is not 10 days early; it’s going to be more than 50 days late," said Foxx. "As a former professor, I can tell you I would not be giving any student a passing grade if he turned in an assignment nearly two months after the due date. Nonetheless, this is an important first step, and the Education Department now needs to ensure that the processing of applications is accurate, that missing capabilities are implemented quickly, and that future applicants never have to deal with this sort of botched rollout."

On November 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, authored by Representative Erin Houchin. The Senate followed suit on November 21 with unanimous consent. The legislation now awaits President Biden's signature. This act mandates that the Education Department make FAFSA available each year by October 1.

Earlier in the year, Chairwoman Foxx and Senator Bill Cassidy criticized the Biden administration for allegedly obstructing a Government Accountability Office investigation into issues surrounding the new FAFSA program's implementation. In July, they sent a letter requesting an update on an Inspector General investigation into what they described as a flawed rollout.