The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, by the Department of Education has been plagued with issues, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. The department launched the updated FAFSA more than three months late, intending to simplify the financial aid process for students.
However, the form came with numerous technical problems, many of which remain unresolved. The GAO report identified 55 specific defects, including serious issues for students whose parents or spouses don’t have Social Security numbers and for those born in 2000.
These glitches caused significant delays for families. Dependent students took an average of five days to complete the form.
Additionally, nearly 75% of calls to the department’s support center went unanswered during the first five months of the rollout. FAFSA applications dropped 9%, particularly among lower-income students, further complicating access to financial aid.
Concerns remain, despite the department adding staff and committing to better pre-testing. Investigators and lawmakers question whether the department has fully addressed the oversight and testing issues from the initial rollout.
GAO investigators criticized the Department of Education during a congressional hearing Tuesday, Sept. 24, for rushing the testing process and failing to communicate with students, leaving many without the support they needed.
Ongoing technical problems and delays continue to raise doubts about the reliability of the next FAFSA cycle. Although the department has promised improvements, the new form is already delayed again, with an expected release by December 2025.
