The reports reveal that leaders in the Education Department not only struggled to manage contractors effectively but also failed to meet critical deadlines in their initiative to overhaul the FAFSA system. These breakdowns in project management contributed significantly to the chaos students experienced this past year, underlining a systemic issue within the department that needs immediate attention and reform. The GAO findings emphasize that many of the problems were anticipated but not adequately addressed, impacting thousands of students and families.
Students faced a myriad of issues when attempting to use the FAFSA application this year, including bugs that locked them out of their accounts and produced inaccurate financial summaries. The timing of these problems was particularly detrimental, as they coincided with the critical period when students submit their financial data to apply for financial aid. These systemic failures not only frustrated applicants but also left college administrators grappling with discrepancies that needed resolution throughout the summer.
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