‘Reflecting Biological Reality’: Education Department Publishes New College Student Aid Form

The Department of Education released an updated version of its Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as FAFSA, to better align with President Donald Trump’s executive order on biological sex after The Daily Signal drew attention to the issue last month.

“President Trump has put an end to the previous administration’s charade that suggested there are more than two genders,” Acting Undersecretary of Education James Bergeron told The Daily Signal in a statement Wednesday. “The U.S. Department of Education is working to correct materials that do not align with biological reality and President Trump’s directive, including making this important modification to the current FAFSA form.” 

In a statement Tuesday, Bergeron noted that the department “will correct the failures of the last administration and ensure students and families can easily access the FAFSA form in a timely manner.”

“Resolving ongoing problems with the 2024-25 form, reflecting biological reality by referencing sex identifiers, and beginning the process for the 2026-27 form on time will allow the department to earn back the trust of the American people,” he explained. “Families and students depend on the FAFSA form to plan their futures, and any release delays or unnecessary politicization of the form is wholly unacceptable.” 

Trump signed an executive order declaring that there are two sexes, male and female, and the federal government will operate by that truth. The Department of Education, however, still hosts a FAFSA form that allows students to select a “nonbinary” gender identity.

When The Daily Signal reached out for comment last month, the department explained that it would be impractical for the department to alter the application for the 2025-2026 FAFSA.

“The department has already taken steps to ensure that the forthcoming FAFSA for 2026-2027 reflects the biological reality that there are only two sexes: male and female,” Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications and outreach at the department, told The Daily Signal at the time.

The department published the information collection for the 2026-27 FAFSA form in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the first public step in the process to develop the final form. The department is on track to launch the form by Oct. 1, the start of fiscal 2026.

The public has 60 days to suggest improvements to the form on the Federal Register. The Education Department will review the suggestions and publish a revised draft for an additional round of public comments.

The department also announced that it is beta testing the ability of colleges and universities to make batch corrections to FAFSA forms. That would allow institutions of higher learning to more efficiently update information on the form after it has been submitted by the student and family.

The department further claimed that the previous administration left many FAFSA features “incomplete.” Under Trump, the department will provide post-screening data from the National Student Loan Database System, notify schools about changes in student eligibility, and make other changes., the department will provide post-screening data from the National Student Loan Database System, notify schools about changes in student eligibility, and make other changes.

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