No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026

Ashley Moody

Republican · FL · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH)Original· 2026-04-29
• Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)Original· 2026-04-29

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

2026-04-29

Source: Congress.gov

No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to establish an identity fraud detection system for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Beginning on October 1, 2026, ED must use an identity fraud detection system to review each submitted application to determine whether the applicant presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If ED makes such a determination, it must notify the applicant and each institution of higher education (IHE) designated on the application that the applicant is subject to additional identity verification. An IHE may not disburse federal financial aid to an applicant that presents a reasonable suspicion of fraud unless the IHE verifies the applicant's identity in person or by live video. If the applicant's identity is confirmed, the IHE must notify ED that the applicant's identity has been verified. ED must establish guidelines for the identity verification procedures conducted by IHEs. (On April 26, 2026, ED began implementing a real-time identity fraud detection process within the FAFSA form that places applicants into one of four risk categories. High-risk applicants must confirm their identity by presenting documentation during the online application process, including via a live camera process. Applicants who are rejected via this automated process must then have their identity verified in person by IHEs.)

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4428 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4428 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the use of an identity fraud detection system in reviewing Free Applications for Federal Student Aid. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2026 Mrs. Moody (for herself, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the use of an identity fraud detection system in reviewing Free Applications for Federal Student Aid. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. IDENTITY FRAUD DETECTION SYSTEM. (a) Identity Fraud Detection System.--Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Identity Fraud Detection System.-- ``(1) In general.--In addition to or in conjunction with other verification processes carried out under this title, the Secretary shall use an identity fraud detection system to review each application submitted under this section on or after October 1, 2026, to determine whether the application presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If the Secretary determines that such an application presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, the Secretary shall carry out notifications in accordance with paragraph (2). ``(2) Notification of reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.--If the Secretary determines that an application submitted under this section presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, the Secretary shall-- ``(A) provide the applicant with notice-- ``(i) of such determination and the basis for such determination; ``(ii) that the information described in subparagraph (B) will be transmitted to each institution of higher education designated by the applicant in the application; and ``(iii) that the applicant is subject to additional identity verification requirements in accordance with section 487(a)(15); and ``(B) transmit to each institution designated by the applicant in the application, a notice-- ``(i) that such application presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; and ``(ii) that the applicant is subject to identity verification requirements to be carried out by the institution in accordance with section 487(a)(15)(B), before the institution may disburse Federal financial aid under this title to such applicant. ``(3) Congressional notices and report.-- ``(A) Notices.--The Secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees-- ``(i) not later than November 1, 2026, a written description of the identity fraud detection system required under this subsection; and ``(ii) not later than 30 days after implementing any substantial change to such system, a written description and rationale for such change. ``(B) Annual evaluation and report.--Not later than October 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the identity fraud detection system carried out under this subsection, and submit to the authorizing committees a report on the use and effectiveness of such system.''. (b) Additional Verification Requirements.-- (1) Amendments.--Section 487(a)(15) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(15)) is amended-- (A) by striking ``(15) The institution acknowledges'' and inserting ``(15)(A) The institution acknowledges''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(B) Beginning on October 1, 2026, the institution will not disburse Federal financial aid under this title to an applicant whose application under section 483 presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud under section…

483(e), unless the institution, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary-- ``(i) determines that a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud is not present by confirming the identity of such applicant using in-person verification or live, synchronous audiovisual verification; ``(ii) notifies the Secretary that the identity of the applicant has been verified; and ``(iii) maintains a record of such identity verification.''. (2) Guidelines on institutional verification procedures.-- Not later than October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Education shall establish guidelines with respect to identity verification procedures to be carried out by institutions of higher education under subparagraph (B) of section 487(a)(15) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(15)), as amended by paragraph (1). <all>

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