The U.S. Department of Education is moving to hire at scale in the Federal Student Aid office, according to an internal presentation reviewed by POLITICO. After a year marked by government-wide reduction in force layoffs in March, FSA is targeting 334 full-time employees by 2027, a 45% increase from staffing levels as of last month. The office oversees core programs that affect millions of Americans, including student loan administration and the federal aid application process, as well as oversight of servicing companies and institutions that receive federal aid. The staffing plan suggests an attempt to rebuild operational capacity in the wake of workforce reductions. For colleges and universities, FSA staffing levels can directly influence processing speed, compliance capacity, and how quickly system changes are implemented—factors that can shape campus enrollment and aid packaging cycles.