Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. recently joined his GOP colleagues Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in a press conference to address the mismanagement of the FAFSA application process by the Department of Education. The senators have sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an investigation into this matter.

During the press conference, Senator Marshall expressed his concerns about the impact of the Biden administration's policies on middle-income and lower-income families. He highlighted the detrimental effects of the mishandling of the FAFSA process, stating, "Joe Biden's fumbling of FAFSA, the student aid application, disproportionately impacts students from middle-income families, and lower-income families as well."

Drawing from his personal experience as a first-generation college student, Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of financial aid in enabling students to pursue higher education. He stated, "I know what it's like to be a first-generation college student hoping to get a little bit of financial aid on top of academic scholarships and athletic scholarships. And what it is to sit there and be waiting for that, literally the difference being able to afford to go to college or to not go to college."

The repercussions of the mismanagement of the FAFSA process are not limited to a few individuals. Senator Marshall pointed out that colleges, community colleges, and technical colleges in Kansas are also experiencing the negative effects of the delays. He stated, "We're hearing that from Kansas University's small colleges and community colleges, technical colleges across the state."

The scale of the problem became evident when Senator Marshall shared the statistic that out of the 17 million people who have attempted to enter the FAFSA process, only approximately 3 million have been able to complete it. This staggering number highlights the widespread uncertainty and financial instability faced by families nationwide.

In addition to addressing the mismanagement of FAFSA, Senator Marshall called on President Biden to prioritize the return of federal employees to in-person work. He echoed Senator Capito's concerns about the lack of in-person work in federal agencies, stating, "I want to echo what Senator Capito talked about – only perhaps 20% of folks in the federal government are working in person. And whether it's the USDA or the Department of Education. I'm calling on Joe Biden to get the federal employees back to work, back in person. This continues to cause a delay up here and these programs are not being implemented properly."

The press conference serves as a platform for these senators to draw attention to the urgent need to address the mismanagement of the FAFSA process. By calling for an investigation into the Department of Education's handling of the application process, they hope to provide clarity and support to the millions of families who are currently in limbo, unable to make informed decisions about their education options due to the lack of financial support.

As the debate surrounding education and financial aid intensifies, it is crucial to address the concerns raised by Senator Marshall and his colleagues. The mismanagement of the FAFSA process has far-reaching consequences that affect the aspirations and opportunities of countless students and families across the country.