While the Department Forges Ahead on 2025-26 FAFSA, Congress Takes Steps To Require Publication By October 1st Beginning Next Year

Overview
Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 380-1 to pass H.R. 8932 – The FAFSA Deadline Act – a bill that would require the Department of Education (Department) to establish an earlier application processing cycle for the Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFA). Specifically, the Department would be mandated to (1) certify to Congress that the Department will meet the October 1 deadline for the cycle, or (2) certify that the Department will not meet such deadline. The Department would be required to testify before Congress on the anticipated failure to meet the deadline and the financial impact such failure will have on students and families.

During her floor statement in support of The FAFSA Deadline Act House Committee on Education & the Workforce (E&W) Committee Chairwoman stated:

“In recent years, bipartisan efforts were made to simplify this complex, daunting process. The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2020, was intended to make applying for financial aid more accessible and less overwhelming. And that’s what this country needs: an effective, user-friendly system that lowers barriers to education and increases access for students of all backgrounds.

“Unfortunately, we are here because the Biden-Harris administration is failing to provide this vital tool to the very students and families it was designed to help. Instead of the smooth rollout we planned, the Biden-Harris administration’s execution of the new, simplified FAFSA has led to widespread frustration, delays, and costly errors. Imagine being a high school senior, working hard to qualify for scholarships and planning your future, only to be met with glitches, incomplete forms, and endless processing errors. That was the reality for too many students.

“Last year, the Department of Education delayed the FAFSA release until late December—three full months after its recommended October 1 release date—due to technical and administrative missteps. The soft launch that followed was chaotic, resulting in millions of errors and little clarity regarding the form’s actual functionality. Delays and the Department’s failure to communicate effectively left families in a state of uncertainty, scrambling to understand what aid they would receive—or even if they would receive aid at all.

“As we sit here, the FAFSA is delayed for a second straight year and some capabilities are still unavailable, forcing students, schools, and state agencies to wait again.

“The FAFSA Deadline Act, introduced by Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN), is the answer. This legislation seeks to hold the Department of Education accountable by requiring the FAFSA to be available by October 1 each year. And it does so with broad, bipartisan support. The bill passed through Committee 34-6, sending a clear signal that both sides of the aisle believe families deserve better.

“In short, today’s conversation is about restoring the promise of FAFSA, fulfilling our obligation to students, and making sure the Department’s failure is not the new normal. It’s our job to ensure that the Department of Education rolls out the FAFSA each year with clear timelines and accurate data, so American families can rely on this process.”

Ranking Member of the E&W Committee Bobby Scott, who had previously opposed the bill during Committee mark up, rose in support of the FAFSA Deadline Act today on the House floor, stating:

“We know that higher education is a pathway to opportunity, but the rising cost of college has made it out of reach of a lot of students. Federal aid, including Pell Grants and student loans, is essential to making college affordable. That is why, in 2020, I worked with Senator Lamar Alexander to pass the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act – to make federal student aid easier to access. Regrettably, last year, technical problems with the newly redesigned FAFSA form delayed students’ access to this vital aid. As a result, too many students could not submit their applications on time, and many struggled to get the support they needed to resolve those issues.

“When the committee first considered this bill in July, I voted in opposition because I was concerned that the implementation deadline may have forced the Department of Education to roll out an incomplete form on October 1 of this year. However, because we are now considering this bill after October 1, the deadline will apply next year, 2025, and that gives the Department ample to make improvements and fix any lingering issues. We now have helpful information from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office that provided specific recommendations on how the Department can continue to improve the rollout and implementation of FAFSA.

“H.R. 8932 sets a clear, firm deadline for rolling out the FAFSA while still giving the Department of Education time to ensure the application functions properly for all students. The bill strikes a balance between ensuring timely access to financial aid and not compromising the quality of the application process.

“We’ve made significant progress in simplifying the FAFSA and expanding financial aid in recent years. According to the Department of Education, despite the ongoing FAFSA challenges, roughly half a million more students received a Pell Grant this year than last year due primarily to the changes in the formulas used. And under the leadership of President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the maximum Pell Grant award has increased by $900 over the last several years, giving students additional financial support to cover college costs. This bill will help ensure that even more students have the information they need in a timelier manner to access Pell Grants and other vital student aid.”

What’s Next
Senator Bill Cassidy, the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has introduced the companion bill for consideration. While it is not likely, but may, be considered during the very short period of time left in the 118th Congress, the overwhelming support by the House and both chambers concerns with the snafus related to last year’s rollout of the 2024-25 FASFA form and pending completion of the 2025-2026 FASFA form Beta testing clearly show that the legislative branch wants this issue resolved.