The House passed the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, a Republican-backed measure that would require the U.S. Department of Education to screen federal financial aid applicants for potential identity fraud. The bill passed 249-172 and would largely codify a FAFSA fraud detection system launched in April. Under the program, applicants flagged as high fraud risk must show government-issued IDs before receiving federal aid. The measure targets reports of scammers using fake identities to apply and enroll, particularly at community colleges, to steal federal financial aid. The story adds specific impact numbers from California Community Colleges, where documents cited disbursements of more than $1.9 million to fake students in the first quarter of 2026 and a reported $30 million loss since 2024. The bill’s passage suggests stronger federal compliance expectations for schools participating in Title IV aid.