H.R. 7892: No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
Sponsor
Burgess Owens
Republican · UT-4
What H.R. 7892 does
H.R. 7892 would have the Department of Education screen every federal student aid application (FAFSA) for signs of identity fraud, starting October 1, 2026. If an application raises a reasonable suspicion of fraud, the department would notify the applicant and the colleges listed on it that extra identity verification is needed.
A college could not pay out federal aid to that applicant until it confirms the person's identity in person or by live video, and it would then tell the department. The department would set guidelines for how colleges verify identity. On April 26, 2026 the department began using a real-time fraud detection process within the FAFSA form that sorts applicants into four risk categories.
How the House voted
Passed · June 10, 202636 Democrats broke with their party to vote yes
Jake Auchincloss
Sanford Bishop
Brendan Boyle
Jim Costa
Henry Cuellar
Sharice Davids
Donald Davis
Laura Gillen
Jared Golden
Maggie Goodlander
Josh Gottheimer
Adam GrayOn Passage: H R 7892 No Aid for Ghost Students Act · Roll no. 217 · Official record
HR7892 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Jun 11, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
House: Passed 249-172
Jun 10, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 249 - 172 (Roll no. 217).
+3 more actions this day
House: Vote Held
Jun 9, 2026
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.
House: Committee Action
Jun 3, 2026
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.
House: Committee Action
May 26, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-669.
House: Vote: 30-3
Mar 17, 2026
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 3.
House: Committee Action
Mar 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Burgess Owens
Republican, Utah's 4th congressional district · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Education and Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure
View full profile →
Cosponsors (4)
All 4 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 3 states: California, North Carolina, Wisconsin.
Committee Sponsors
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
0 of 21 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Education and Workforce Committee
3 of 37 committee members cosponsored
28 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 7892 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 483 of Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090)
adding at the end the following: ``(e) Identity Fraud Detection System
H.R. 7892 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Mar 12, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
Jun 11, 2026
H.R. 7892 Bill Text
“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.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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