"'F.' That’s the grade financial aid experts gave the Education Department for its rollout of a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Fafsa) at a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. Even by government standards, the Biden team’s mismanagement has been stunning," The Wall Street Journal reports.

..."Department leaders seem 'tone-deaf,' she added. They have even blamed colleges for their screw-ups. Ms. Feldman was generous in grading the Administration’s Fafsa rollout a “D” for “disappointing.” Financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators president Justin Draeger gave the Administration an “F.”

Asked if anyone at the department should be fired, Mr. Draeger replied: “If there was a financial aid director or even a college president that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep.” A CEO who presided over such mismanagement would have been defenestrated long ago.

Yet Mr. Draeger said he has 'yet to hear any sort of apologies' from the Administration to schools and families. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was unapologetic when he testified before Congress on Wednesday in another hearing, asserting 'there’s nothing more important right now at the Department of Education' than fixing the Fafsa."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 4/12/2024