One aggressive legislative package, which already passed the U.S. House of Representatives, would significantly curb eligibility for Pell Grants and fine schools for leaving students with debt.
Scammers are using AI bots to pose as students, enroll in online classes, and steal financial aid. The Education Department is now requiring ID verification to fight the surge in fraud.
About 40% of undergraduates rely on Pell Grants to pay for college, and experts say if the plans are enacted, many of the lowest-income students would be forced to drop out.
These "ghost students," now running rampant in California and infiltrating other states, are deploying new deepfake technology to trick their institutional victims.
College and university financial aid offices strained, underequipped and slower at assisting students with FAFSA requests since the Trump administration cut staffing at the Department of Education.
