Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer

The government shutdown has ended, and we’re back to help answer your questions about federal student aid. Remember to complete your FAFSA® form before your state's deadline at fafsa.gov

You can still fill out your FAFSA® form! Financial aid disbursements aren’t affected by the government shutdown. You should still make payments on your federal student loans. Need help? Aidan’s got your back 24/7 at StudentAid.gov We won’t be posting or replying to questions during the shutdown, but help is still available online.

Federal Student Aid is taking action to better support borrowers. In addition to reactive issue resolution, our newly renamed Office of Consumer Education & Ombudsman will focus on proactive borrower support—through education, tools, and transparency. We're also developing a Common Manual to standardize servicing practices across all federal loan servicers, bringing clarity, fairness, and accountability to the entire system. These moves are about delivering for students, parents, and borrowers. 🔗 ow.ly/vcpJ50WYXBQ

🎓 The 2026–27 FAFSA® form is Now Live – It's Time to Apply! Whether you’re a high school senior, current college student, or returning adult learner, completing the FAFSA form is the most important step you can take toward unlocking financial aid for your education. Each year, millions of students access grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans through the FAFSA form. We’ve worked hard to simplify and streamline the FAFSA process this year, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. ✅ Visit fafsa.gov to get started. 📅 The earlier you apply, the more aid options may be available to you. 📲 Questions? Help is available at StudentAid.gov/help

The 2026-27 FAFSA form is LIVE — the earliest launch in history! 🎉 Under @POTUS leadership, the form is available ahead of schedule and American families can now complete the form in minutes. Visit StudentAid.gov to fill out your FAFSA today!

📢 Financial aid administrators, mentors, and counselors: The 2026–27 FAFSA® Preview Presentation is here! ✔️ Screenshots of the new form ✔️ Training and event resource ✔️ Planning support 🔗 Download the PowerPoint or PDF on FSA Partner Connect: ow.ly/ScBV50WQrSm

As we continue to improve our services, I'm excited to announce key updates to the 2026 –27 FAFSA® form as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: ✅ Exclusion of certain family-owned business assets from SAI calculation ✅ Changes to the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria Read more on FSA Partner Connect: ow.ly/W3rx50WLFlO

The 2026–27 FAFSA® prototype is now live. The prototype is a web-based tool that allows counselors, mentors, college access professionals, and others to navigate specific scenarios that many FAFSA applicants will encounter on the live website. This is a key step in preparing our teams and partners to support students effectively during this application cycle. View details and instructions about how to access the prototype: ow.ly/jRzL50WQrP3

Today, as we observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, we are reminded of the values and freedoms that shape our country and of our responsibilities as citizens. @usedgov has published a list of ideas for how our partners and the public can observe this important day! fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-cent…

Thank you to everyone who joined our spotlight session at @NCANetwork last week! We were glad to connect with advisers, counselors, and other higher ed partners to share the latest updates about the 2026–27 FAFSA® form, including updates about the beta testing phases. Together, we’re helping more students access the support they need for college. 🎓✨ For resources to help you prepare for the 2026–27 FAFSA launch, visit StudentAid.gov/fafsasupport #FAFSA #NCAN2025

As we prepare for the launch of the 2026–27 FAFSA® form, a limited number of students and contributors can access it for early testing. Our goal? A smoother, more reliable experience for every student and family. Learn more about the upgrades we’re implementing this fall: StudentAid.gov/joinbeta

In a recent letter to superintendents, we’re encouraging schools to help students get a head start on the financial aid process by joining the 2026–27 #FAFSA beta. By signing up at StudentAid.gov/joinbeta, students can help us test the form and complete their FAFSA® form early. @AASAHQ @NASSP

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report on FAFSA® oversight. We are excited to highlight the improvements made by the FAFSA team this past year. ✅ 14M+ FAFSA submissions for 2025–26  ✅ Faster fixes, better tools, and positive student feedback  ✅  New tools, like FAFSA Central, making the process easier for our stakeholders  Read more about how FSA is improving, modernizing, and putting students first: blog.ed.gov/2025/09/gettin… FAFSA Central: fsapartners.ed.gov/fafsacentral

@FAFSA’s data center is a one-stop shop for information related to our programs and operations. Our latest quarterly data center update supports our mission to increase transparency and accountability for our partners and taxpayers. Learn more: ow.ly/10BQ50WMWZf

If you are a student loan borrower enrolled in the SAVE Plan, interest began accruing on August 1, 2025. Explore your repayment options and get answers to common questions.

⭐Thank you to our vendors and industry partners for joining us for Federal Student Aid's (FSA’s) Technology Modernization Initiative Virtual Industry Day! ⭐ We’re grateful to the 300+ participants who joined us for our first-ever industry day. They represent 140+ unique organizations, including at least 60 small businesses! 🙌 We appreciate their time, insights, and collaboration. For those who missed FSA’s Technology Modernization Initiative Virtual Industry Day, you can download the presentation and watch a recording at ow.ly/y4bj50WMWX3

📢 Reminder: Following FSA’s Technology Modernization Initiative Virtual Industry Day, vendors and partners have until Aug. 27 to submit follow-up questions to FSATechModernization@ed.gov.

That’s a wrap! Thanks to our vendors and industry partners for participating in FSA’s first-ever Technology Modernization Initiative Virtual Industry Day! Vendors and partners, you will have until Aug. 27 to submit any follow-up questions to FSATechModernization@ed.gov. Federal Student Aid will publish the answers no later than Sept. 5.

One of the preliminary questions we received was: How will FSA use AI to enhance customer experience and self-service? Here’s our vision 👇 ✨ Proactive communication: Reminders, alerts, and guidance tailored to user needs ✨ Smarter support: AI tools that help agents respond faster and more consistently ✨ Conversational assistants: Chatbots that guide students, parents, borrowers, and partners through forms and aid options in real time Our goal: a more intuitive, accessible, and supportive digital experience for everyone we serve.

The 2026–27 FAFSA® Beta 2 is now open! Join the first group of 1,000 students and contributors to test the FAFSA form and shape the future of student aid. Your feedback is crucial in making the FAFSA experience better for everyone. 📋 Request access today and be part of the change! ➡️ StudentAid.gov/fafsasupport 🔷 More about Beta 2: blog.ed.gov/2025/08/inside… 🔶 Info about Beta 1: blog.ed.gov/2025/06/whats-…