PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 582.
Congressional Research Service
Version 07 · Reported to House · May 26, 2026
Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to prioritize the review of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that disburse federal student aid without verifying the identity of a student whose Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.
Specifically, the bill requires ED to identify each IHE that disburses, on or after October 1, 2026, federal financial aid for an award year to any student whose FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, as determined by ED's identity fraud detection system. However, the bill excludes from this identification any IHE that demonstrates to ED, for each student and before disbursing federal financial aid, that the IHE (1) verifies the student's identity in person or by live video, (2) notifies ED of the identify verification, and (3) maintains a record of such identity verification.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
ED may use identification information to inform program reviews, audits, investigations, and other oversight activities related to federal student aid.
(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.)
People & committees
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] · R–PA
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 582.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-668.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-668.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jul 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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