What does Preamble of No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 do?

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. It requires the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system. The system will review each Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The review aims to determine if a FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.

What does SHORT TITLE. of No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the 'No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026'.

What does IDENTITY FRAUD DETECTION SYSTEM. of No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary to use an identity fraud detection system to screen applications for federal financial aid. The system will assess applications submitted on or after October 1, 2026, for reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If reasonable suspicion is determined, the Secretary must notify the applicant and designated institutions, and the applicant will be subject to additional identity verification requirements. Institutions must verify the applicant's identity using specified methods (in-person, audiovisual, NIST IAL2 compliant, or Secretary-approved alternatives) before disbursing aid. The Secretary must submit descriptions of the system and any substantial changes to Congress, and conduct annual evaluations and reports on its effectiveness. The Secretary must establish guidelines for identity verification procedures by October 1, 2026.

What does PROGRAM REVIEW PRIORITY CATEGORY. of No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 498A(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 It adds a new priority category for program review Institutions with a pattern of disbursing aid to students with suspected identity fraud are included

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No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026

Last updated: 6/11/2026 · Introduced: 3/12/2026

Author: Burgess Owens (R-UT)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill mandates the Secretary of Education to employ an identity fraud detection system for reviewing each Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If a FAFSA raises a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, the Secretary must notify the applicant and higher education institutions.
Federal financial aid disbursement to applicants suspected of identity fraud will be prohibited unless their identity is verified by institutions of higher education.

119th Congresspassed houseS. 4428(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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