(The Center Square) – Focusing “on free college is overshadowing good governance,” and the myriad mistakes involving families filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form are too much, says a North Carolina congresswoman.
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., chairwoman of the Education and Workforce Committee in the House of Representatives, said of the latest mistakes, “This is yet another instance of the Biden administration steaming out of the harbor in a boat with holes in it, and it underscores the urgency for transparency and accountability in postsecondary education.”
On Friday, the Department of Education posted a notice from its Federal Student Aid group related to incorrect tax data sent to schools on the Institutional Student Information Records for 2024-25 FAFSA applications. The post said those impacted were fewer than 20%.
On Monday, Federal Student Aid provided updates on two issues involving inconsistent tax data transferal, and a third with inconsistencies in instructions.
FAFSA problems started with the rollout of a new form this year. Usually available in October, it was not until Dec. 31. Colleges and universities have been hindered in trying to send financial aid packages to students because of technical glitches and miscalculations.
College administrators say the spirt of the new form was to streamline and make it easier for families. It connects to an IRS tool directly.
So far, families and higher ed have endured struggles that are no fault of their own.
Foxx said in a release, “If the Education Department exercised due diligence and proper data testing, this latest mishap, along with countless others, could have been prevented or caught years ago. After months upon months of the Department’s mistakes and delays, institutions, families, and states are left questioning whether any data coming from the administration is accurate. Instead of doing its job, the administration has focused its time, energy, and resources on its illegal student loan scheme.”
She also took aim at the Biden administration’s plan to shift the burden of student loans onto taxpayers.
“Let’s not forget that Biden’s student loan policies do nothing to address the high cost of tuition,” she said. “In fact, ‘forgiving’ loans (a nonsensical term since loans don’t disappear but instead are forced upon taxpayers) will increase borrowing because the administration is sending the signal that loans will never have to be paid back. In turn, institutions will continue raising prices, forcing students to borrow more and more, all without being held accountable for dismal student outcomes.”
