The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the entry ramp to federal grants and loans that many students depend on to afford college. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 in part to make it easier to apply for federal aid. However, the rollout of the new FAFSA has suffered from numerous challenges and delays.
This report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office makes seven recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education to ensure it is prepared for the start of the next FAFSA cycle by December 2024. These recommendations include an overhaul of the submission process for parents and spouses without Social Security numbers, ensuring sufficient call center staffing, and communicating timely information to students and timeframes to colleges.