The Education Department is conducting a comprehensive review of its Federal Student Aid office following significant delays and errors in the rollout of the revamped FAFSA form. Secretary Miguel Cardona announced leadership changes, the hiring of IT experts, and the involvement of the Boston Consulting Group to recommend improvements. The department aims to enhance oversight, accountability, and operational efficiency to better serve students and educators.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has been designated as the survivor for President Biden's State of the Union address, meaning he will be at an undisclosed location outside the Capitol in case of a disaster. This year's address comes ahead of the 2024 general election, and Cardona, who became education secretary in March 2021, is sixteenth in the presidential line of succession. The designated survivor is a tradition outlined in the Presidential Succession Act, and this year, both Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm are ineligible for the role.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has been chosen as the designated survivor for the 2024 State of the Union address, making him the 16th in the presidential line of succession. The designated survivor is a Cabinet member who would take over the presidency in the event of a catastrophic incident at the Capitol during the address. This tradition, which likely originated during the Cold War, has seen various Cabinet members serve as designated survivors in the past, with Cardona being the latest in a line that includes Marty Walsh, Gina Raimondo, and others.
President Biden has chosen Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as the designated survivor for the State of the Union address, ensuring continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe. This tradition dates back to the Cold War era, and Cardona will watch the proceedings from an undisclosed location. The designated survivor is a precaution in case a disaster were to occur at the Capitol, disrupting the line of succession.
The US Education Department is easing requirements for colleges and universities to help them deal with delayed student financial aid information caused by technical glitches with the new federal financial aid application, FAFSA. The department will reduce the proportion of financial aid forms it reviews for potential inaccuracy, suspend new reviews of colleges’ compliance with financial aid rules, and offer flexibility in their applications to renew eligibility for federal financial aid programs. These changes aim to support institutions in processing aid applications and delivering aid packages to students amidst the FAFSA delays.
The U.S. Department of Education is taking additional steps to support colleges and students with the FAFSA process, aiming to make it easier for schools to process student financial aid forms and provide maximum aid to students. These steps include reducing verification requirements, suspending routine school compliance reviews, and providing flexibility on recertification. The Department is also deploying federal personnel to support under-resourced colleges, allocating $50 million in funding for technical assistance, and releasing test versions of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) to help institutions prepare their systems. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the goal of simplifying the FAFSA process for colleges, universities, and students.
The Department of Education is stepping in to assist colleges with the rollout of changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after delays and processing errors. They plan to deploy experts to under-resourced institutions, provide a $50 million donation to educational nonprofits, and set up a financial aid "concierge service" for schools. Despite ongoing glitches, the department remains confident that all students applying for financial aid will receive the necessary support.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona faced criticism on social media after misquoting President Ronald Reagan's famous line during a recent event. Cardona mistakenly said, "We're from the government. We're here to help," instead of the actual quote, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’" Social media users mocked Cardona's lack of understanding of the historical quote, with some calling for his resignation.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is facing criticism after misquoting former President Ronald Reagan's famous statement about government intervention. During a meeting with Western state governors, Cardona stated, "We're from the government, we're here to help," misrepresenting Reagan's original warning against government interference. Critics, including conservatives, have expressed their dismay at Cardona's misquote, highlighting the importance of historical knowledge for those in positions of authority. Cardona, who has been in charge of the Education Department since March 2021, has not responded to inquiries about whether he was joking.
President Joe Biden plans to pursue an alternate legal pathway to large-scale student debt cancellation after the Supreme Court struck down his initial plan. The administration will use its powers under the Higher Education Act to seek debt relief, a route that many progressives favored. The HEA grants the Secretary of Education the power to "compromise, waive, or release" claims against student borrowers, potentially allowing for mass cancellation of debt. The new plan benefits from its lack of connection to the pandemic and may avoid the "major questions" trap that doomed the previous program. However, the success of this plan is uncertain, as it still faces potential legal challenges and the clock is ticking to wrap up the program within the next two and a half years.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona confirmed that student loan payments will resume later this year, no later than 60 days after June 30. The timing depends on the Supreme Court's ruling on President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, which could provide borrowers with up to $20,000 in debt relief. Cardona expressed confidence in the administration's debt relief plan, but Biden previously expressed uncertainty about the conservative majority Supreme Court's ruling. The Department of Education recognizes that borrowers need a long on-ramp to resuming payments and plans to ensure a smooth reentry to repayment.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona blames book "banning" and censorship for dismal U.S. history and civics scores released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The latest declines are the latest indication of COVID-era school policies' lasting impacts on student performance. Cardona partly blamed book "banning" and censorship for the dismal outcome, seemingly taking a jab at Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who notoriously cracked down on allegedly divisive rhetoric in classrooms across The Sunshine State and even rejected a proposed outline for an AP African American Studies course.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona criticized Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's proposal to raise the debt ceiling, which includes banning student-loan forgiveness and ending the payment pause. Cardona said the legislation will harm McCarthy's own constituents, including over 83,000 borrowers in his district. McCarthy's bill is unlikely to be signed into law, but it shows where Republicans' priorities lie, as they continue to oppose any student-debt relief efforts. Biden has maintained confidence in his debt relief's legality and criticized McCarthy's efforts to prevent millions of borrowers from receiving student-loan forgiveness.
