By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
After several jam-packed days of learning, networking, and community bonding, NASFAA on Friday morning concluded its 2025 National Conference with a look toward the future of student financial aid, including key policy updates about Congress and reconciliation, the Department of Education (ED), and more.
The final session began with a changing of the gavel from 2024-25 NASFAA National Chair Kristi Jovell to 2025-26 National Chair Heidi Carl. During her remarks, Carl outlined her hopes for the financial aid profession, focused on being “the storm.”
“Let's stop just weathering the storm,” Carl said. “Let's be the storm, the kind that moves the needle, that demands to be heard, and that makes people finally ask, wait, what do the financial aid folks think? Let's be bold in our advocacy on Capitol Hill, in our institutions, and in our communities. Let's push for real, tangible changes.”
From there, NASFAA President and CEO Melanie Storey and Vice President of Public Policy and Federal Relations Karen McCarthy shared several updates from Washington, D.C., outlining the landscape of federal student aid policy.
McCarthy began by asking attendees to submit what they think is the most significant risk to federal student aid, such as Congress, administrative actions, or loss in public trust of higher education. The most popular answer from attendees was proposals to dismantle ED.
McCarthy also asked attendees what short-term issue they think will impact higher education the most in the next year. A majority of respondents answered that potential funding cuts to student aid programs was the most significant issue.
During her presentation, McCarthy noted that the political climate is creating significant worry among the financial aid profession. That includes calls from President Donald Trump to dissolve ED, potential cuts to federal student aid programs proposed by the Trump administration, Republicans’ sweeping reconciliation bill, pending litigation for the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, and more.
“There's been a lot – the pace of change, the unpredictability, the departure from long standing norms,” McCarthy said. “I get questions from many of you on a regular basis asking ‘Could this happen?’ and in the past, the answers were ‘Of course not.’ The answer is no, and I can pretty reliably answer that question. Now I get these questions, ‘Could this happen?’ and well, I'm not really sure.”
Meanwhile, Storey focused on the dynamics in Congress. While there are disagreements among both political parties around the future of higher education and student financial aid, Storey noted that there are several areas with agreement from both parties. That includes the expansion of the Pell Grant program to short-term programs, FAFSA simplification, and a desire for better outcomes data.
“There are areas of consensus,” Storey said. “We are having rich policy conversations. We're not having any kind of [HEA] reauthorization conversations – that is not happening – but it is very possible to find common ground, to leverage, navigate and to ‘be the storm’ when the shared goals are student success.”
McCarthy also shared some insight around Congress’ reconciliation bill, which is rapidly changing with each passing day. Notably, Congressional Republicans have a self-imposed deadline to pass a reconciliation bill by July 4, 2025, which might be pushed back due to news this past week from the Senate parliamentarian.
Specifically, the Senate parliamentarian advised that several higher education provisions of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. It remains to be seen whether the Senate will adopt these changes or how they will revise the text to try to receive the parliamentarian’s approval. Republican lawmakers actually have until September 30 to pass a reconciliation bill for this fiscal year, McCarthy clarified.
As the session concluded, Storey asked attendees where they find meaning in their work. A majority said that their meaning comes from helping students navigate the financial aid process or advocating for their students. Storey reminded attendees that their work is important and valuable to many.
“We are rooted in purpose,” Storey said. “That's what we need to remember. The challenges are significant. … We are in a post trust environment, and how do we rebuild it? While that can feel threatening, it also gives us a new opportunity to redefine our purpose, our meaning and to tell our story. Sometimes these challenges are a way to sharpen our knives, to be forged by steel, to be clear in what our purpose is.”
This concludes the NASFAA 2025 National Conference. Make sure to check out our conference news coverage on sessions you may have missed!
Publication Date: 6/30/2025
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