Washington is witnessing significant developments since the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) granted the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service the ability to review its records. This initiative has already led to the prevention and recovery of over $31 million in Social Security payments that were erroneously issued to deceased individuals.
David Lebryk, the Treasury’s Fiscal Assistant Secretary, highlighted in a recent announcement that these figures represent just the initial findings of the project’s potential impact. As part of a comprehensive appropriations bill passed in 2021, the Treasury has secured temporary access to the SSA’s “Full Death Master File” for a period extending from December 2023 to 2026. This file is recognized as the most comprehensive federal database of deceased individuals, encompassing more than 142 million records dating back to 1899, according to reports from the Treasury.
With this access, the Treasury estimates it could recover upwards of $215 million in the three years allotted for its operations. Lebryk noted that making access to the Full Death Master File permanent would greatly enhance efforts to combat fraud, bolster program integrity, and protect taxpayer funds more effectively.
The initiative not only aims to reduce instances of fraud and misappropriation but also aligns with one of Donald Trump’s campaign promises to enhance government accountability. In a significant move, the president-elect appointed prominent business figures, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to spearhead a new task force called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This nongovernmental group is designed to identify strategies for streamlining the federal workforce, eliminating unnecessary programs, and rolling back federal regulations, in line with Trump’s “Save America” agenda for his upcoming term in office.
As of now, there has been no response from the Trump transition team regarding whether the incoming administration will sustain this initiative or pursue measures to secure permanent access to the Treasury for the SSA’s records.
