House Republicans passed the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, a measure that would require the U.S. Department of Education to screen federal financial aid applicants for potential identity fraud. The bill largely codifies an April system under which high-fraud-risk applicants must present government-issued IDs before receiving federal aid. The legislation targets scams where fake identities are used to apply and enroll at institutions, a problem that has reportedly cost community colleges and other campuses millions. Reporting in California Community Colleges suggests significant fraud payouts and losses since 2024, with the Education Department later moving toward broader verification and training its systems to flag risk. For higher education leaders, the bill’s passage signals that identity verification steps will likely become permanent and more formal—potentially affecting enrollment workflows, student experience, and administrative capacity for verification and appeals.