Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Education said Wednesday that its "on time" launch of FAFSA for soon-to-be college students means less worry about filing for federal student aid for 2026-2027 after difficulties faced in previous years.
The Education Department in 2023 took steps to revamp the federal application for federal student aid, or FAFSA, in order to streamline the fall-time process for college students, but it had a rocky rollout that delayed filing mechanisms until December.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was critical of the prior administration under then-President Joe Biden, saying the Trump administration has "prioritized technical competence and expertise" when it comes to setting up the FAFSA filing portal.
On Wednesday, McMahon claimed its announced October launch will be the "earliest" such since the modern-day FAFSA's 1992 inception.
"Congress gave us a mandate to improve the form and deliver it on time for students, families, and institutions of higher education," McMahon said in a statement.
