Higher Ed Policy Roundup: Vol. 7 - Issue 4

On Tuesday, at a session held by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, representatives from the Office of Federal Student Aid suggested that changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may not be ready by October 1. The FAFSA, which has opened on October 1 since 2016, is being updated due to changes made in the FAFSA Simplification Act. A delay would cause disruptions to current FAFSA systems to adjust for a shortened application timeline.

Late last week, 126 House Republicans filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court regarding challenges to the Biden-Harris Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. In the brief, the Members of Congress argue that the Administration does not have the statutory authority to implement student loan forgiveness and that the plan is an overstep of the separation of powers. The challenges, stemming from appeals from the Eighth and Fifth Circuit Courts, will be heard by the Supreme Court on February 28.

House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) sent a letter to the Education Department (ED) opposing the proposed changes to income-driven repayment plans announced in January. Recall that ED released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) making several changes that will reduce the cost of federal student loan repayment plans for borrowers. In the letter, the Republican lawmakers accuse ED of exceeding its administrative powers and request an extension to the comment period deadline. The NPRM, which was open for a 30-day public comment period, closes February 10. Read AccessLex Institute’s comments on the NPRM.

Research suggests that student loan forgiveness does not have a causal relationship with increased tuition prices.

ABA House of Delegates votes to keep law school standardized test requirement.

There were no relevant student-aid related bills recently introduced for consideration by the 118th Congress (2023-2024).