No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
Introduced
Summary
A federal identity fraud detection system for FAFSA would screen student aid applications for signs of stolen or fake identities. Flagged applications must clear extra identity checks before federal aid is released.
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- Students and families: A FAFSA filed on or after October 1, 2026 that is flagged for reasonable suspicion of identity fraud triggers notification to the applicant and extra verification steps before aid can be disbursed.
- Institutions of higher education: Colleges and universities must not disburse federal aid to a flagged applicant unless they confirm identity through in-person or live, synchronous audiovisual verification, notify the Secretary that identity is verified, and keep a record of the check. The Secretary must issue guidelines for these procedures by October 1, 2026.
- Department oversight and reporting: The Secretary must submit a written description of the detection system to authorizing committees by November 1, 2026, report substantial changes within 30 days, and provide an evaluation of effectiveness by October 1, 2027 and annually thereafter.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New ID Checks for FAFSA Students
If you submit a FAFSA on or after October 1, 2026, the Education Department would check it with an identity-fraud detection system. If the system finds a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, the Department would notify you (including why your application was flagged) and tell each school you listed. A school would not be able to give federal student aid to a flagged applicant until it confirms your identity in person or by live, real-time video under rules the Department issues. After verifying your identity, the school would notify the Department and keep a record of the verification. The Department would issue verification rules by October 1, 2026, send a written description of the detection system to authorizing committees by November 1, 2026, and report on the system’s effectiveness by October 1, 2027, and every year after.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]
AL • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov