March 12, 2026
Mr. Owens introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.
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) Amendment
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) 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).