119th Congress·House bill
H.R. 7891: Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026
To amend section 498A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to prioritize program reviews of institutions of higher education that disburse Federal financial aid under title IV of such Act without verifying the identity of a student whose FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.
SponsorRep. Glenn ThompsonRepublican, PA
IntroducedMar 12, 2026in the House
Latest actionMay 26, 20266 actions
Cosponsors10 recorded votes
Where the bill stands
In committee- Introduced Mar 12, 2026
- Committee Mar 12, 2026
- Passed House Next
- Passed Senate Not yet
- To President Not yet
- Law Not yet
Latest action, May 26, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 582.
Summary
Library of Congress, May 26, 2026Student 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.
ED may use identification information to inform program reviews, audits, investigations, and other oversight activities related to federal student aid.
Read the full summary
(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.)
Companies lobbying on this bill
1 company · 3 filingsMember trades in these companies
90 days · 0 tradesNo member of Congress traded these companies in the last 90 days
Votes
0 recordedNo recorded roll-call vote on this bill yet
Actions
6 total- May 26, 2026HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-668.
- May 26, 2026HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 582.
- Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Mar 17, 2026HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced in House
- Mar 12, 2026HouseReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Committees
1- House Education and Workforce CommitteeReported ByReported By, May 26, 2026Markup By, Mar 17, 2026Referred To, Mar 12, 2026
Sponsor and cosponsors
1 cosponsors- Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15)Sponsor, Mar 12, 2026
- Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5)Joined Mar 18, 2026
Text versions
2- Reported in House May 26, 2026 PDF: Reported in House
- Introduced in House Mar 12, 2026 PDF: Introduced in House
Amendments
0No amendments offered
Cost estimates and reports
- CBO: H.R. 7891, Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026May 13, 2026As ordered reported by the House Committee on Education and Workforce on March 17, 2026
- Committee report H. Rept. 119-668
Titles
2Short titles
- Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026Short Title(s) as Reported to House
Official titles
- To amend section 498A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to prioritize program reviews of institutions of higher education that disburse Federal financial aid under title IV of such Act without verifying the identity of a student whose FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.Official Title as Introduced
Subjects
4Policy area
Legislative subjects
Computer security and identity theftGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHigher educationStudent aid and college costs
Related bills
1- S. 4531 Related bill Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026
Official record from Congress.gov, the House Clerk and the Senate; lobbying from Lobbying Disclosure Act filings. Updated Oct 27, 2026.