OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing ED's New FAFSA Fraud Prevention Measures
This week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie and Karen are joined by Aaron Lemon-Strauss, the Department of Education's (ED) FAFSA program executive director, to discuss new FAFSA fraud prevention measures announced by the department this week. Aaron kicks off the discussion by explaining the technical details of how these new fraud prevention measures will work in the online FAFSA workflow. He further explains how, starting April 26, ED will screen and assess each FAFSA for fraud risk before it is submitted, along with a one-time screen of previously submitted 2026-27 FAFSAs. Throughout the discussion, Melanie and Karen ask Aaron questions that financial aid offices may have, and relay possible concerns about administrative burden, impact on legitimate students, and more.
Speakers
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Melanie Storey |
Karen McCarthy |
Aaron Lemon-Strauss Executive Director of the FAFSA Program |
Maria Carrasco Reporter |
This episode of Off The Cuff is brought to you by our upcoming NASFAA U Administrative Capability Online Course
Administrative capability is at the heart of Title IV regulations, encompassing many of the measures of an institution’s Title IV eligibility. Demonstrating administrative capability to participate in the Title IV programs involves virtually every office within an institution, making compliance a campus-wide commitment and responsibility. Starting on April 21, this four-week interactive course is the perfect learning tool for financial aid professionals and campus partners, and is designed to provide the necessary tools and resources to assist with being administratively capable on your campus. Enroll today at nasfaa.org/Online_Courses.
Resources
- Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube
- Episode Transcript (PDF)
- Electronic Announcement: FAFSA Real-Time Fraud Detection
- Article: ED Announces Launch of FAFSA Real-Time Identity Fraud Detection Capabilities in Late April
- FSA Webinar on May 1: Real-Time FAFSA Fraud Detection
Send your thoughts, questions, and comments. We'd love to hear what you think.
Publication Date: 4/17/2026
