Bill aims to hold US government to deadline on student aid

Department of Education would have to ensure Fafsa scheme opens for applications on 1 October

Congress has introduced a bill intended to force the Department of Education to make the United States’ higher education student aid scheme available for applications from 1 October each year, after a widely criticised delay last year.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid scheme has typically been available from this date, according to a statement by senator Bill Cassidy, the ranking Republican member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. But in its most recent iteration, Fafsa was not available for applications until January 2024.