No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-7892| House
| Updated: 6/11/2026
Burgess Owens
Republican Representative
Utah
Cosponsors (4)
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhance fraud prevention in federal student aid. It mandates that the Secretary of Education implement an identity fraud detection system to review every Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted on or after October 1, 2026, specifically looking for reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If such suspicion is found, the Secretary must notify both the applicant, detailing the basis for the determination and additional verification steps, and the institutions designated by the applicant. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that institutions of higher education cannot disburse federal financial aid to applicants flagged for potential identity fraud until they conduct their own verification. This institutional verification must involve in-person or live, synchronous audiovisual confirmation of the applicant's identity, following procedures established by the Secretary. Institutions are also required to notify the Secretary upon successful verification and maintain records of the process, ensuring that aid is only disbursed to legitimate students.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 3.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 583.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-669.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H4037-4044; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4037-4038)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7892.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 7892, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4076-4077)
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 249 - 172 (Roll no. 217).
View VoteMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Education
Computers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHigher educationStudent aid and college costs
No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-7892| House
| Updated: 6/11/2026
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhance fraud prevention in federal student aid. It mandates that the Secretary of Education implement an identity fraud detection system to review every Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted on or after October 1, 2026, specifically looking for reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If such suspicion is found, the Secretary must notify both the applicant, detailing the basis for the determination and additional verification steps, and the institutions designated by the applicant. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that institutions of higher education cannot disburse federal financial aid to applicants flagged for potential identity fraud until they conduct their own verification. This institutional verification must involve in-person or live, synchronous audiovisual confirmation of the applicant's identity, following procedures established by the Secretary. Institutions are also required to notify the Secretary upon successful verification and maintain records of the process, ensuring that aid is only disbursed to legitimate students.
Suggested Questions
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 3.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 583.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-669.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H4037-4044; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4037-4038)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7892.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 7892, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4076-4077)
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 249 - 172 (Roll no. 217).
View VoteMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Burgess Owens
Republican Representative
Utah
Cosponsors (4)
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Education
Related Bills
- S 119-4428: No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
- HRES 119-1333: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8646) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7726) to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to withhold funds from noncompliant States under such Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7892) 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; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8872) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- In Committee
- On Floor
- Passed Chamber
- Enacted
Computers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHigher educationStudent aid and college costs