Senator Kennedy's Bill to Halt Government Payments to the Deceased Heads to the President's Desk

Summary: Senator John Kennedy's Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act has passed both the Senate and House unanimously. The bill requires permanent data sharing between the Social Security Administration and Treasury to stop billions in payments to deceased individuals. It now awaits President Trump's signature to become law.

NATIONAL - In a significant step toward curbing government waste, the U.S. Congress has passed the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, spearheaded by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA). This legislation aims to permanently prevent the federal government from sending billions in erroneous payments to deceased individuals by mandating data sharing between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of the Treasury's "Do Not Pay" system. The bill addresses a longstanding issue where, in 2023 alone, an estimated $1.3 billion was disbursed to people who had passed away.

Senator Kennedy, who has championed this cause for years, celebrated the bill's passage in a recent statement: "I’ve been working for years—literally YEARS—to get the government to stop sending checks to dead people." He highlighted a prior temporary measure he passed, the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which allowed limited data sharing but expired, necessitating this permanent fix. The new act builds on that foundation, ensuring ongoing cross-referencing of death records to flag and halt improper payments across federal programs.

Understanding the Legislative Process

To appreciate how this bill reached its current stage, consider the U.S. legislative process under Article I of the Constitution:

• Senator Kennedy introduced S. 269 in the Senate on January 28, 2025, where it underwent committee review in Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, was reported favorably, and passed unanimously by unanimous consent in September 2025.

• The House passed an aligned version by voice vote on January 12, 2026, with no reconciliation needed due to matching provisions, reflecting bipartisan support from co-sponsors like Senators Peters and Wyden.

• This streamlined path—introduction, committee scrutiny, floor votes, and enrollment—ensures checks and balances while advancing non-controversial reforms, and the bill now heads to President Trump for signature.

What Happens Next?

With the bill now on President Donald Trump's desk, the final step is executive action. The President has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without signature if Congress is in session. A veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override—unlikely given the unanimous passage.

If signed, the law takes effect immediately or as specified, directing federal agencies to implement the data-sharing protocols. The Treasury and SSA will integrate systems to routinely verify recipient status, potentially saving taxpayers billions over time. Citizens can track implementation through agency reports or by contacting their representatives.

This bill exemplifies how persistent advocacy can address inefficiencies, reminding us that government accountability starts with commonsense reforms. As Senator Kennedy noted, it's about ensuring "we’re no longer paying dead people and having their friends or relatives or whomever cash the checks."​

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