President Donald Trump has signed the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), into law. The legislation aims to prevent government payments from being sent to individuals who have died, addressing a longstanding issue of erroneous disbursements.
“Using dead Americans to rip off taxpayers is as low as it gets. Many Americans have seen these scams play out across the country and are tired of watching these fraudsters game the system—so am I. That’s why I wrote this common-sense bill to end this outrageous abuse permanently, and I’m grateful President Trump signed it into law so we can ensure taxpayer dollars go to living Americans who actually need our help,” said Kennedy.
A previous bipartisan law passed in 2020, known as the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, temporarily reduced such improper payments for three years and was projected to save at least $330 million between 2024 and 2026. The new act makes those provisions permanent and is expected to stop billions of dollars in future improper payments.
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the measure in September 2025, with the House following in January 2026.
Jonathan McKernan, Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, voiced support: “Treasury is firmly committed to advancing data-driven strategies that strengthen payment integrity and safeguard taxpayer dollars. Senator Kennedy’s legislation is a major step forward in achieving that goal. We greatly appreciate his leadership in our shared goal to prevent improper payments.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) commented on behalf of Republican priorities: “Nothing is more wasteful than the federal government sending money to deceased people, and the American taxpayer will no longer foot the bill for the federal government’s mistakes. Republicans have prioritized eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and this legislation builds upon the important reforms we delivered through the Working Families Tax Cuts.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) added: “It’s pretty simple: the government shouldn’t be sending taxpayer dollars to people who have passed away. Thanks to Sen. Kennedy’s Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, the Treasury will put an end to this egregious use of federal dollars. This is another way Republicans are delivering on our promise to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington. I’m thankful to my good friend from Louisiana for his leadership on this issue and am happy to see this critical legislation signed into law by President Trump.”
Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) co-led efforts in the Senate.
“This vital bill will help save millions of taxpayer dollars by ensuring the Social Security Administration will be able to permanently share important data with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system, preventing wrongful payments to deceased individuals. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to help safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said Peters.
“Today is the final lap of getting this bill across the finish line so that the personal data and Social Security benefits of millions of Americans are protected. I am pleased to see the signing of our bipartisan bill into law, fixing our federal government’s payment systems to ensure that millions of taxpayer dollars are saved every year. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am committed to safeguarding the hard-earned benefits of Americans,” said Wyden.
Other cosponsors included Sens. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
“As stewards of our fellow taxpayers’ dollars, we owe it to them to be sure their hard-earned money is well spent and NOT WASTED. The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act…has now been signed into law by President Trump! This is a step in the right direction for ending waste, fraud, and abuse running rampant in Washington,” said Moody.
Ernst stated: “Fraudsters gave eternal life to thousands of Americans who died long ago…With President Trump signing the Ending Improper Payments…into law today…we’re finally stopping fraud dead in its tracks that RIPs off taxpayers.”
Hassan commented: “Our government has a responsibility…to prevent waste…I am glad that this bipartisan bill…has been signed into law.”
Warner added: “I’m thrilled…this bipartisan commonsense bill become law….I will continue working…to improve efficiency…”
In addition Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) led companion legislation in Congress with Reps Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) supporting.
Meuser said: “With President Trump signing …this administration …are taking concrete steps …stop more than $300 million from being lost …This bipartisan reform strengthens accountability across …government….”
Miller-Meeks stated: “It is unacceptable that hard-earned tax dollars are being sent…to dead people….This legislation will ensure integrity …and will prevent wrongful payments…”
Kennedy’s earlier efforts included directing temporary sharing between Social Security Administration’s Death Master File—a database recording deaths—and Treasury’s Do Not Pay system starting December 2020 through December 2025; under current legislation this sharing becomes permanent.
The new act also allows comparison between SSA death information with other federal databases via Treasury’s Do Not Pay system; agencies using Do Not Pay can access shared data for oversight purposes going forward.
Senator Kennedy represents Louisiana statewide through district offices located throughout Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport while engaging residents via newsletters and public events according https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/. He chairs or serves on several key committees including Banking Housing & Urban Affairs; Appropriations; Budget; Energy & Natural Resources advancing policies benefiting veterans farmers small businesses national security issues as described on his official website https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/.
