Two linked developments underscore how federal student-aid access is tightening. First, reporting on IRS Direct File’s demise ties the program’s end to lobbying pressure from major tax-prep firms, leaving taxpayers once again dependent on private platforms for filing. The policy dispute is framed around the availability and user volume of Direct File versus the broader Free File portal. Second, another higher-ed policy brief warns about an upcoming “federal student loan drought,” driven by new Title IV borrowing limits for graduate and professional students. It highlights program caps and restrictions on how institutions can bridge gaps once Grad PLUS use is limited for new borrowers. Together, the pieces point to a near-term funding reconfiguration that higher-ed leaders will need to operationalize quickly—through revised financing counseling, tighter applicant expectations, and new institutional lending or support structures.