Treasury says Do Not Pay blocked $175 million in payments to deceased people in FY2026
The Treasury Department says its Do Not Pay screening identified and returned about 13,500 payments worth $175 million meant for deceased people in fiscal year 2026, as access expanded to 99% of federal programs.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2The US Treasury Department said it blocked about $175 million in federal payments tied to deceased recipients in fiscal year 2026, identifying and returning roughly 13,500 payments. Fox NewsR “identifying and returning about 13,500 payments worth $175 million that otherwise would have been distributed to individuals no longer eligible for payments due to death” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “Treasury identified and returned approximately 13,500 payments totaling $175 million that would have instead gone to deceased individuals.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Treasury screened more than 1.1 billion federal payments totalling about $3.7 trillion through its Do Not Pay program in the year. Fox NewsR “Treasury screened more than 1.1 billion federal payments totaling roughly $3.7 trillion in FY2026” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “screening more than 1.1 billion federal payments totaling approximately $3.7 trillion” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The figure is up from the roughly $99 million tied to deceased recipients (more than 4,900 payments) that Treasury announced in July, when it had screened about 885 million payments worth around $2.77 trillion. Fox NewsR “The latest figures build on Treasury’s July announcement that it had screened more than 885 million payments worth roughly $2.77 trillion and flagged more than 4,900 payments worth about $99 million tied to deceased recipients.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 2Access to Do Not Pay rose from about 4% of federal programs to about 99%, which Treasury links to a March 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump on fraud, waste and abuse; most remaining programs are expected to onboard in fiscal 2027. Fox NewsR “More than 99% of federal programs now have access to the "Do Not Pay" tool, up from roughly 4% at the end of FY2025.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “most remaining programs are on track to complete onboarding in the 2027 fiscal year” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Fox News reported that Treasury screened more than 2.3 billion records against Do Not Pay data sources, nearly four times the 641 million the previous year; Breitbart reported nine new data sources were added, including company registration data from OpenCorporates and Social Security data, raising the data screened to about 20 times the earlier amount. Fox NewsR “Treasury also screened more than 2.3 billion records against Do Not Pay data sources in FY2026, nearly four times the 641 million records screened the previous fiscal year.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “using new sources including company registration information through OpenCorporates and verification against Social Security data” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Treasury also piloted checks that verify bank account ownership and Taxpayer Identification Numbers, which Fox says became fully operational on Sept. 30, letting Treasury flag and return failing payments before money is sent. Fox NewsR “The checks became fully operational Sept. 30, and allow Treasury to flag and return payments that fail verification before the money is sent.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “enabling Treasury to identify and return payments that failed to meet established verification requirements before funds are disbursed” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department is "moving beyond 'pay and chase' and making prevention the federal government's first line of defense." Fox NewsR “We are moving beyond ‘pay and chase’ and making prevention the federal government’s first line of defense.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “said in a statement on Tuesday, October 6.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana praised the result and said his Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, signed by Trump in February 2026, made Treasury's access to Social Security death records permanent; it followed a 2020 law that began a three-year data-sharing program in December 2023. Fox NewsR “Trump then signed Kennedy’s Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act into law in February 2026, making the access permanent.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the administration is "setting new standards in record time to prevent fraud and improper payments." Treasury officials said access to Do Not Pay data is governed by strict privacy, security and user access controls. BreitbartR “This Administration is setting new standards in record time to prevent fraud and improper payments before hard-earned taxpayer dollars leave the Treasury,”“Access to and use of Do Not Pay data is governed by strict privacy, security, and user access controls, Treasury officials said.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay Treasury's press release as an administration success story in the fight against fraud, led by the $175 million figure.
- Emphasis
- Trump's anti-fraud push, Bessent's 'pay and chase' quote, and the expansion from 4% to 99% of programs; Fox adds Sen. Kennedy's praise and legislation, Breitbart adds the data sources and a White House quote.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries independent verification of the figures, outside experts, critics, or context on how much of the blocked amount was actually improper versus erroneously flagged.
- Charged language
- “drops hammer on federal fraud”“slamming the door on these fraudsters”“pay and chase”
What every side reports
- Treasury says it identified and returned about 13,500 payments worth $175 million meant for deceased people in FY2026.
- Treasury screened more than 1.1 billion payments worth about $3.7 trillion.
- Do Not Pay access rose from about 4% to about 99% of federal programs, fulfilling a March 2025 Trump executive order.
- New bank account and TIN verification checks were completed at the end of September.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Millions saved by blocking dead people payouts as Trump Treasury drops hammer on federal fraud
Celebratory Exclusive-style report presenting the figures as a Trump administration crackdown, with a senator's praise.
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Treasury's 'Do Not Pay' Fraud Prevention Effort Saves $175 Million
Celebratory Reports the Treasury announcement as savings and a policy success, with a White House quote crediting Trump.
- 6 Oct 14:00 First Fox NewsR Millions saved by blocking dead people payouts as Trump Treasury drops hammer on federal fraud
- 7 Oct 15:46 +25h 45m BreitbartR Treasury's 'Do Not Pay' Fraud Prevention Effort Saves $175 Million
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.