Springfield Standard

Senator Eric Schmitt has demanded answers from the Department of Education regarding delays in processing student loan applications and the failure to properly implement the FAFSA Simplification Act. In a letter to Secretary Miguel Cardona, Senator Schmitt expressed his concerns, stating, “Despite plenty of time and adequate funding, the Department of Education failed to properly implement the new FAFSA.”

The letter highlighted the delays in the financial aid process, noting that colleges and universities did not begin to receive student data from completed applications until the end of March 2024, significantly delaying the process. Senator Schmitt emphasized the impact of these delays on students, stating, “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.”

Furthermore, Senator Schmitt raised issues regarding the Department’s prioritization of applications, mentioning concerns about the handling of applications from families with illegal aliens. He urged the Department to refocus its efforts and prioritize the FAFSA process to ensure that students' education is not jeopardized.

Senator Schmitt requested Secretary Cardona to provide a comprehensive timeline of the FAFSA paper applications’ processing times, steps taken to resolve complications with the FAFSA Simplification Act, and how students are kept informed about completing the new FAFSA.

Constituents have been contacting Senator Schmitt’s office with concerns about these issues, and Missouri State University even had to push back their financial aid deadline due to problems with the FAFSA.

The full letter from Senator Schmitt to Secretary Cardona can be accessed for further details on the matter.