FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allie Arcese
Sr. Director, Strategic Communications
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 25, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Education (ED) today shared its intent to convene two negotiated rulemaking sessions, during which a committee of stakeholders will work toward writing regulations to implement various provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including changes to the federal student loan programs, as well as changes to institutional and programmatic accountability, the Pell Grant Program, and other modifications to the federal student aid programs. 

Notably, financial aid administrators were not included in the constituency groups that will be represented on the negotiating committees.

In response to this news, NASFAA President & CEO Melanie Storey released the following statement:

“Given the topics being discussed, it is unfathomable to not have representation from the financial aid community — the primary institutional constituency responsible for communicating these important changes to students and families and implementing the details of this wide-ranging bill on college campuses.  Financial aid professionals are essential to ensuring a smooth implementation. This is an alarming first misstep in enacting the monumental policy changes included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The deliberate exclusion of a key stakeholder group undermines the very foundation of negotiated rulemaking, which aims to ensure that all essential stakeholder voices are represented in the rulemaking process. Ignoring the voice of the financial aid community not only violates the spirit of collaboration and transparency that negotiated rulemaking is meant to uphold, but it also jeopardizes the success of these policies once they reach campuses.

We call on the Department to make space for financial aid professionals at the negotiating table, as our members play a central role in ensuring students receive timely and accurate access to federal aid and provide essential insight for crafting workable, student-centered regulations. We stand ready to collaborate in implementing this important piece of legislation.”

NASFAA policy experts are available to speak to members of the media about the negotiated rulemaking process and the higher education provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. To set up an interview, please email [email protected].

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About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the U.S. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.