The Social Security Administration has denied claims that it planned to falsely classify 2.7 million people as dead.
The allegation came from former SSA employee Jeremiah Schofield, whose whistleblower disclosure was highlighted by Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren.
The senators raised concerns that Social Security data may have been targeted for immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
In a letter to SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano, they warned that the claims suggested possible manipulation of federal records.
However, an SSA official denied that 2.7 million people were added to the Death Master File and said the agency maintains strict internal controls to protect the accuracy of personal records.
What Is The Death Master File?
The Death Master File is a federal database used to record people who have died. It is widely used by government agencies, banks, credit agencies, employers and benefit programs to verify identity and prevent fraud.
Because the database is connected to important financial and government systems, being wrongly listed as dead can create serious problems. A person could lose access to bank accounts, credit cards, public benefits and even the legal ability to work.
That is why the whistleblower’s claims have drawn attention from lawmakers and privacy advocates.
Where The Claims Came From
Schofield, a former senior SSA official with more than 25 years of experience, said the issue emerged during internal discussions in early 2025.
According to his disclosure, staff linked to the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, pushed the SSA to identify large-scale fraud.
The disclosure claimed that some officials discussed adding death dates to records without proof that the individuals had died.
One alleged effort involved more than 6,000 people on a Department of Homeland Security list. Another broader plan allegedly involved as many as 2.7 million people.
Schofield said he and other officials refused to carry out the larger plan after finding that many sampled individuals appeared to be alive and legally present in the United States.
Senators Demand Answers
Blumenthal and Warren described the allegations as deeply alarming. They said the claims raised questions about whether Social Security systems were being used for immigration enforcement instead of their intended purpose.
The senators have asked SSA leadership to provide details about the alleged plan, including what access DOGE employees had to sensitive databases and whether any federal privacy rules were violated.
SSA Says The Larger Plan Was Not Carried Out
According to Schofield, the 2.7 million people were not added to the Death Master File before he left the agency. The SSA has also said it did not carry out the alleged plan.
However, the whistleblower claimed that more than 6,000 individuals may have been marked as deceased through batch updates. He also said some people later appeared at field offices after discovering they had been wrongly listed as dead.
SSA career staff reportedly warned that changing records without proof of death could violate federal law and agency rules.
Why The Allegations Matter
The issue goes beyond immigration policy. Social Security records are central to identity verification, benefits access and financial services.
Incorrect death records could disrupt lives, damage trust in federal data and expose the government to legal challenges.
The whistleblower also claimed that SSA data may have been explored for use in other areas, including SNAP and Medicare eligibility.
The Social Security Administration denies that it falsely classified 2.7 million people as dead, but the whistleblower allegations have triggered serious questions about privacy, data accuracy and political pressure inside federal agencies.
Lawmakers are now demanding answers as concerns grow over how sensitive Social Security records may have been used.