Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Education [Docket ID ED-2026-FSA-0727] AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of a modified system of records entitled “Aid Awareness and Application Processing” (18-11-21). This system maintains information necessary for the Department to process applications for Federal student financial program assistance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA); to perform the responsibilities of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman; to provide Federal student loan repayment relief including under the borrower defense to repayment regulations; to notify aid applicants and aid recipients of aid program opportunities and updates under title IV of the HEA via digital communication channels; and to maintain the StudentAid.gov website as the front end for assisting customers with all of their Federal student financial aid needs throughout the student aid lifecycle. The Department's Digital and Customer Care (DCC) Information Technology (IT) system collects the electronic records ( printed page 21451) maintained in the Aid Awareness and Application Processing (AAAP) system. DATES: Submit your comments on this modified system of records notice on or before May 22, 2026. This modified system of records notice will become applicable upon public…