All Roll Calls
Yes: 249 • No: 172
119-hr-7892119th CongressWALLET
No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
Passed House
Summary
Identity fraud detection for federal student aid. This bill requires the Department of Education to screen FAFSA and other federal aid applications for signs of stolen or fake identities and to trigger extra identity checks before aid is disbursed.
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- Students and applicants: If an application is flagged for reasonable suspicion of identity fraud the applicant is notified and must complete additional identity verification before federal aid can be sent. Verification can include in-person checks, live audiovisual checks, or NIST Identity Assurance Level 2 (NIST IAL2) or equivalent methods starting October 1, 2026.
- Colleges and career schools: Institutions may not disburse federal aid to flagged applicants until they confirm identity using the approved methods, notify the Department that identity was verified, and keep verification records. Schools can use contractors but must follow Department guidelines.
- Department oversight and program reviews: The Department must describe its detection system to Congress by November 1, 2026 and begin annual evaluations by October 1, 2027. The bill also adds a program-review signal for institutions that repeatedly disburse aid tied to suspicious applications.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Colleges get ID-check rules and reviews
If enacted, the Education Secretary would set uniform rules by October 1, 2026 for how colleges verify identities for flagged applicants. Starting on or after October 1, 2026, schools that show a pattern of paying aid to flagged applicants would move up on program review. A school would be excluded from that priority if it proves it followed the required verification rules.
Extra ID checks for flagged FAFSA applicants
If enacted, the Education Department would screen all federal student aid applications filed on or after October 1, 2026 for identity fraud. If your application is flagged, you would be told and your listed colleges would get a notice. Flagged students would need extra identity checks before any federal aid is paid. Schools would be able to verify identity in person, by live video, using NIST Identity Assurance Level 2 or an equal method, or a mix of these. Schools would have to tell the Secretary once identity is confirmed and keep records. The Secretary would send Congress a description of the detection system by November 1, 2026, report big changes within 30 days, and start yearly evaluations on October 1, 2027.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3]
CA • I
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]
CA • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 6/10/2026
On Passage
Yes: 249 • No: 172