Scourge on Student Loans: Mo. Senator pens letter to demand answers from DoE
A U.S. Senator from Missouri has demanded answers from the Department of Education about a scourge on student loan applications that has pushed some colleges to extend their financial aid deadlines. U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has written to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (Dee) about delays in the department's approval of student loan applications, blaming a failure to properly implement the FAFSA Simplification Act. Schmitt asked Cardona to provide a comprehensive timeline of the application's processing times and steps taken to resolve complications with the implementation of the Act. He also highlighted that the Department has prioritized the applications of families with illegal aliens, rather than prioritizing existing student aid programs. The issue has led some colleges to extend their financial aid deadlines, and Missouri State University has even had its financial aid deadline pushed back due to the issue.
Published : a month ago by Sarah Motter in Politics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A U.S. Senator from Missouri has demanded answers from the Department of Education about a scourge on student loan applications that has pushed some colleges to extend their financial aid deadlines.
U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) announced on Thursday, April 4, that he sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about delays in the department’s approval of student loan applications. He called the move a failure to properly implement the FAFSA Simplification Act.
“Despite plenty of time and adequate funding, the Department of Education failed to properly implement the new FAFSA,” Schmitt wrote. “Though the FAFSA Simplification Act passed in 2020, the form was not available for prospective students until December 2023, delaying the financial aid process.”
Specifically, Schmitt asked Cardona to provide a comprehensive timeline of the FAFSA paper application’s processing times to include the updated status of the application from initial submission to the determination of eligibility and notification.
“Colleges and universities did not begin to receive student data from completed applications until the end of March 2024, delaying the process further,” Schmitt continued. “Now, students are not expected to receive financial aid letters until April or even May. This is well past many universities’ decision timelines and most final decisions are required before mid-May.”
The Senator has also urged the Secretary to release steps the Department of Education has taken to resolve complications with the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act and how it currently keeps students informed with updated information.
“The Department of Education has pushed unnecessary and legally dubious loan bailout initiatives, while also failing to prioritize existing obligations with established student aid programs,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt noted that constituents have reached out for weeks with an appetite for answers regarding these issues. Missouri State University has even pushed back its financial aid deadline due to the issues.
“Even more concerning, the Department has prioritized the applications of families with illegal aliens, devising ‘workarounds’ and loopholes to allow these applications to be submitted. Based on all accounts, working families depending on FAFSA determinations are at the back of the queue in your Department. The Department needs to refocus its efforts and prioritize the FAFSA process to ensure students’ education is not jeopardized,” Schmitt concluded.
To read the full letter sent to Secretary Cardonna, click HERE.