Higgins’, Kennedy’s Legislation to End Government Payments to Deceased People Signed into Law by President Trump

Feb 11, 2026| Media, Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) witnessed President Trump sign their legislation, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, into law in the Oval Office yesterday.

This bill allows the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to share its Death Master File, a list of deceased individuals, with the U.S. Department of Treasury to avoid taxpayer dollars being paid to deceased people.

Rep. Higgins said, "This legislation will save taxpayers billions of dollars every year and does not increase the size of the federal government. Fiscal Conservatives have been clear… waste, fraud, abuse, and theft of hard-earned taxpayer dollars must end. I'd like to thank President Trump for pushing this critical bill across the finish line."

Sen. Kennedy said, "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."