This week on "Off The Cuff," the team discusses NASFAA's letter to Congress requesting increased funding for federal student aid programs in fiscal year 2019, and question whether the budget will be passed before the September deadline. Megan, Allie, and Stephen talked about concerns raised this week regarding expanding the role of a top Department of Education (ED) official. Allie walks the team through a recent ED report detailing cases in which students had their TEACH Grants converted into loans, as well a State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) report highlighting states' increased reliance on tuition funds. Plus, the team considers whether the conference room can double as a dance club.

This week on "Off The Cuff," the team digs into the details of the much-anticipated omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2018, which included some surprising wins for student aid, such as a $175 boost to the maximum Pell Grant award. Justin, Megan, and Stephen talked about what we know and don't know about an immediate fix for schools looking to share FAFSA data with authorized scholarship providers. Despite the victories, the bill caused some drama among lawmakers on the House floor Thursday afternoon. The team also gave a rundown of the recent in-person convening for the Higher Education Committee of 50, or the Forward50, and where the group's work will be moving in the coming months.

This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Allie talk about the latest special election and whether it could be a foreshadowing for the upcoming midterm elections, and how student loan debt manifests as a personal issue for some members of Congress. Justin describes the potential implications of decentralizing the Department of Education's budget office—against the wishes of the White House's Office of Management and Budget. Justin and Allie discuss Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's recent interview on "60 Minutes," and recap the latest developments from the final negotiated rulemaking session on gainful employment. Plus, Justin wonders: is LinkedIn really the social media platform of choice for millennials?

This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Megan, Stephen, and Allie talk about what's on the Republican party's list of legislative priorities for the rest of the year—and what isn't. Meanwhile, as legislators continue to work on the fiscal year 2018 budget, last-minute policy riders could derail the process and lead to another continuing resolution. Justin and Megan dive into the latest proposals for the final negotiated rulemaking session on gainful employment, and Allie discusses a new report looking at the implications of grant program consolidation. Plus, Justin wonders why someone would be stealing dozens of tubas.

This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Allie discuss some highlights from NASFAA's recent 2018 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and answer a listener question regarding the status of borrower defense claim processing. They also dig into the details of an expected piece of guidance from the Department of Education regarding the oversight of student loan servicing companies. Reports have suggested ED will issue guidance stating federal law preempts state law—an idea that has upset many consumer advocates. Justin brings up a recent Pew survey on the favorability of various federal agencies and where ED stacks up in the rankings, as well as new research on who exactly uses income-driven repayment plans.