Federal Student Aid's FY 2020-2024 Strategic Planning Process

The objective of our audit was to determine the extent to which the U.S. Department of Education had processes for ensuring that Federal Student Aid’s (FSA) fiscal year (FY) 2020–2024 strategic goals, objectives, and related performance indicators were effective. FSA did not have documented processes to guide its FY 2020–2024 strategic planning and to ensure that the strategic goals, objectives, and performance indicators included in the FY 2020–2024 Strategic Plan were effective. Despite FSA not having documented processes to guide its strategic planning, the strategic goals, objectives, and majority of performance indicators included in the final FY 2020–2024 Strategic Plan are effective. All 5 strategic goals and all 15 objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound. They also align with the former Secretary's goals and guidance and the Department's FY 2018–2022 Strategic Plan.