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S. 4428: No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
119th Congress · introduced 2026-04-29 · Education · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
federal
Official title
No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
Plain summary
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.)
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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Official text
No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
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Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] · 5 cosponsors
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Words on this page, explained (1)
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119s4428.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/s>
Record fed-us-cong119-s4428 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills