Source: Fox News
Summary
The Treasury Department blocked $175 million in federal payments to deceased recipients in fiscal year 2026, according to a report by Fox News. This amount is higher than the $99 million identified earlier. The figure comes as part of efforts by the Trump administration to expand government-wide screening for improper payments. Republican Sen. John Kennedy praised the move, citing his work on a law to prevent payments to dead people. The law, signed in 2026, made access to Social Security death records permanent. Treasury screened over 1.1 billion payments totaling $3.7 trillion, identifying 13,500 payments worth $175 million to deceased individuals.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Treasury blocked payments to dead people.
Sen. Kennedy praised the move.
Lawmakers pushed for more data sharing.
Screening efforts expanded across the government.
Author: Evan Null
Blocking Payments to the Dead
The Treasury Department blocked $175 million in payments to deceased recipients in fiscal year 2026. This is a significant increase from the $99 million identified earlier. The move is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to expand government-wide screening for improper payments. The increase highlights the ongoing focus on preventing fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds.
Sen. Kennedy’s Role
Republican Sen. John Kennedy praised the action, calling it a victory against fraud. He has long pushed for greater access to Social Security death records. His efforts led to a 2020 law that temporarily allowed the Treasury to use the Death Master File. The law was made permanent in 2026 with the passage of the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act.
Expansion of Screening Efforts
The Treasury screened over 1.1 billion payments totaling $3.7 trillion in FY2026. This led to the identification of 13,500 payments worth $175 million to deceased individuals. The expansion of screening efforts is part of a broader initiative to prevent improper payments. The use of advanced technology and better data is central to this effort.
Do Not Pay Tool
More than 99% of federal programs now have access to the “Do Not Pay” tool. This is a significant increase from 4% at the end of FY2025. The tool helps prevent payments to ineligible recipients. The expansion of the tool is part of a March 2025 executive order from Trump to strengthen safeguards against fraud and abuse.
Verification Efforts
Treasury tested new safeguards to verify that bank accounts belong to the intended recipients. These checks became fully operational on Sept. 30. The new measures allow Treasury to flag and return payments that fail verification before the money is sent. This is part of ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy and security of federal payments.
