The "FAFSA Act of 2025" terminates federal student aid eligibility for individuals convicted of assaulting a police officer or rioting, converting any prior grants into unsubsidized loans ineligible for forgiveness programs.
August Pfluger
Representative
TX-11
The "FAFSA Act of 2025" terminates federal student aid eligibility for individuals convicted of assaulting a police officer or rioting. Any grants received by these individuals will be converted into Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, which must be repaid with interest. These converted loans will not be eligible for any loan forgiveness programs.
Proposed Bill Would End Federal Student Aid for Convictions of Assaulting Police or Rioting, Convert Grants to Loans
Heads up, there's a new bill called the "Freeze Aid For Student Assaulters Act of 2025" – or FAFSA Act, for short – that could change the game for federal student aid eligibility. This proposal targets individuals convicted of specific offenses: assault against a police officer or rioting. If enacted, anyone convicted of these crimes would lose their eligibility for federal student financial aid, like Pell Grants or federal student loans, starting the first award year after the bill becomes law.
From Grant Money to Loan Debt
Here’s where it gets particularly impactful, according to Section 2 of the bill: if someone receiving federal grants under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (think Pell Grants) is convicted of one of these offenses, that grant money essentially flips into debt. The bill requires these grants to be converted into Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. What does 'unsubsidized' mean here? It means interest starts piling up immediately, and under this bill, it would be calculated retroactively from the date the grant was first awarded. So, someone could suddenly owe not just the grant amount back, but also accumulated interest.
No Easy Way Out: The Fine Print on Repayment
The bill doesn't stop at converting grants to loans. It also explicitly states that these newly converted loans won't be eligible for any existing or future loan forgiveness, cancellation, discharge, or reduction programs. This means standard options like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or income-driven repayment plan forgiveness wouldn't apply to this specific debt. The practical effect is locking individuals into repaying the full amount plus interest, regardless of their financial situation or career path after conviction. This raises questions about the long-term financial consequences for affected individuals trying to get back on their feet after a conviction, potentially creating a significant barrier long after any sentence is served.