{"id":"1793385667227-news-segment","slug":"treasury-blocks-175-million-in-dead-payouts","title":"Treasury blocks 175 million in dead payouts","summary":"Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department's Do Not Pay system screened more than 1.1 billion federal payments totaling about $3.7 trillion in fiscal 2026 and returned about 13,500 payments worth $175 million that otherwise would have gone to deceased people. That is up sharply from the nearly $100 million flagged in July. Treasury also cited stopping almost $190 million and returning more than $100 million in funds that had gone overseas to U.S. victims, and it ordered an audit of roughly $9 billion in Treasury contracts.\n\nThe crackdown follows President Trump's March 2025 executive order on protecting federal payments from fraud, waste, and abuse. The effort was reinforced by the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, signed into law in February 2026, which made permanent Treasury's access to Social Security death records. Treasury says it is shifting from “pay and chase” recovery toward prevention before money goes out.\n\nTreasury's Do Not Pay system returned $175 million in FY2026 payments tied to deceased recipients — up from about $99 million in July — and expanded Do Not Pay access to 99% of federal programs. Treasury also cited nearly $190 million in stopped overseas fraud and over $100 million returned to U.S. victims.\n\nA federal judge opened a formal inquiry into whether Trump administration officials and Justice Department lawyers misled the court about President Trump's plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links. Judge Ana C. Reyes read D.C. Bar truthfulness rules and has repeatedly questioned the government's candor.\n\nAl Jazeera reported that Pakistan's military spokesperson said Islamabad is “cautiously optimistic” about US-Iran mediation efforts, while warning that “powerful spoilers and detractors” could undermine the process.\n\nReuters reported that China opposes the US FCC ban on Chinese lab testing and vowed countermeasures if the US presses ahead.\n\nThe Guardian reported that men accused of sexually assaulting Joanne Young, whose the","publishedAt":"2026-10-30T18:41:07.227Z","channel":{"id":"news","name":"Oncast News","language":"en"},"show":"Washington","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Treasury's Do Not Pay system returned $175 million in FY2026 payments tied to deceased recipients — up from about $99 million in July — and expanded Do Not Pay access to 99% of federal programs. Treasury also cited nearly $190 million in stopped overseas fraud and over $100 million returned to U.S. victims.\nSource: [foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/millions-saved-blocking-dead-people-payouts-trump-treasury-drops-hammer-federal-fraud); [politicopro.com](https:/ (https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2116237515028062342)\n\nTRUE: A federal judge opened a formal inquiry into whether Trump administration officials and Justice Department lawyers misled the court about President Trump's plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links. Judge Ana C. Reyes read D.C. Bar truthfulness rules and has repeatedly questioned the government's candor.\nSource: [washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/30/judge-orders-inquiry-into-whether-doj-lawyers-misled-court-trumps-golf-plan/) NAMES: DOJ = (https://x.com/axios/status/2116236729225248990)\n\nTRUE: Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan's military spokesperson said Islamabad is “cautiously optimistic” about US-Iran mediation efforts, while warning that “powerful spoilers and detractors” could undermine the process.\nSource: [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/) (https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2116237027087896847)\n\nTRUE: Reuters reported that China opposes the US FCC ban on Chinese lab testing and vowed countermeasures if the US presses ahead.\nSource: [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/) NAMES: FCC = Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. telecom regulator. (https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116237496975552723)\n\nTRUE: The Guardian reported that men accused of sexually assaulting Joanne Young, whose then-husband allegedly drugged her, said they were invited to the couple's home via online adverts and a swinging website and did not know she had been drugged.\nSource: [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples- (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples-home)\n\nTRUE: The prosecutor in Russell Brand's trial told the court that six women came forward with nothing to gain and had not been led by the media.\nSource: [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told) (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told)\n\nTRUE: Scotland's and Wales's first ministers told Andy Burnham that decisions on further local devolution rest solely with Holyrood and the Senedd, not Westminster.\nSource: [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham) NAMES: Holyrood = the (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham)\n\nTRUE: The IOPC has launched an independent investigation into the Metropolitan Police's handling of a 2019 warning letter about Thomas Markle, after Scotland Yard referred itself.\nSource: [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter) NAMES: IOPC = Independent Office f (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Treasury's Do Not Pay system returned $175 million in FY2026 payments tied to deceased recipients — up from about $99 million in July — and expanded Do Not Pay access to 99% of federal programs. Treasury also cited nearly $190 million in stopped overseas fraud and over $100 million returned to U.S. victims.","sourceName":"[foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/millions-saved-blocking-dead-people-payouts-trump-treasury-drops-hammer-federal-fraud); [politicopro.com](https:/","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2116237515028062342","claim":"NEW: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent details the administration's fraud crackdown, reporting $175 million in payments returned before reaching deceased individuals and nearly $190 million in overseas fraud stopped. Bessent says more than $100 million has been returned to U.S. ht","author":"Fox News (@FoxNews)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"A federal judge opened a formal inquiry into whether Trump administration officials and Justice Department lawyers misled the court about President Trump's plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links. Judge Ana C. Reyes read D.C. Bar truthfulness rules and has repeatedly questioned the government's candor.","sourceName":"[washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/30/judge-orders-inquiry-into-whether-doj-lawyers-misled-court-trumps-golf-plan/) NAMES: DOJ =","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/axios/status/2116236729225248990","claim":"NEW: Judge probes whether Trump DOJ misled court on golf plan https://t.co/l48BdiOSCU","author":"@axios"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan's military spokesperson said Islamabad is “cautiously optimistic” about US-Iran mediation efforts, while warning that “powerful spoilers and detractors” could undermine the process.","sourceName":"[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/)","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2116237027087896847","claim":"BREAKING: Pakistan’s military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says Islamabad's “cautiously optimistic” about mediation efforts between Iran and the US, but warns “powerful spoilers and detractors” could seek to undermine process. 🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/ihFp1AR6kr https:","author":"Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Reuters reported that China opposes the US FCC ban on Chinese lab testing and vowed countermeasures if the US presses ahead.","sourceName":"[reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/) NAMES: FCC = Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. telecom regulator.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116237496975552723","claim":"China opposes US FCC ban on Chinese lab testing, vows countermeasures if US presses ahead https://t.co/uyKRUgaBlx","author":"@Reuters"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"The Guardian reported that men accused of sexually assaulting Joanne Young, whose then-husband allegedly drugged her, said they were invited to the couple's home via online adverts and a swinging website and did not know she had been drugged.","sourceName":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples-","sourceUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples-home","claim":"Men accused of sexually assaulting woman drugged by husband describe being invited to couple’s home - Men say they made connection via online adverts and swinging website and had no idea Joanne Young had been drugged Men accused of sexually assaulting a woman whose then husband d","author":"The Guardian"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"The prosecutor in Russell Brand's trial told the court that six women came forward with nothing to gain and had not been led by the media.","sourceName":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told)","sourceUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told","claim":"Russell Brand trial: accusers have ‘nothing to gain’ and were not led by media, court told - In closing speech, prosecutor says six women had ‘bravely’ come forward after realising they were not alone Six women who have been “haunted” by their encounters with Russell Brand came f","author":"The Guardian"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Scotland's and Wales's first ministers told Andy Burnham that decisions on further local devolution rest solely with Holyrood and the Senedd, not Westminster.","sourceName":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham) NAMES: Holyrood = the","sourceUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham","claim":"Local devolution decisions rest solely with Scotland and Wales, first ministers tell Burnham - John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth say devolving power further is up to Holyrood and Senedd – not Westminster Scotland and Wales’s first ministers have told Andy Burnham that decisions o","author":"The Guardian"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"The IOPC has launched an independent investigation into the Metropolitan Police's handling of a 2019 warning letter about Thomas Markle, after Scotland Yard referred itself.","sourceName":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter) NAMES: IOPC = Independent Office f","sourceUrl":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter","claim":"Police watchdog to investigate Met’s handling of Meghan warning letter - IOPC launches independent investigation after referral by Scotland Yard over 2019 letter about Thomas Markle Scotland Yard faces an independent investigation into its failure in 2019 to pass claims alleging ","author":"The Guardian"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2116237515028062342","name":"[foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/millions-saved-blocking-dead-people-payouts-trump-treasury-drops-hammer-federal-fraud); [politicopro.com](https:/","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Fox News (@FoxNews)"},{"url":"https://x.com/axios/status/2116236729225248990","name":"[washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/30/judge-orders-inquiry-into-whether-doj-lawyers-misled-court-trumps-golf-plan/) NAMES: DOJ =","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"@axios"},{"url":"https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2116237027087896847","name":"[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/)","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)"},{"url":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116237496975552723","name":"[reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/) NAMES: FCC = Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. telecom regulator.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"@Reuters"},{"url":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples-home","name":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/men-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-drugged-by-husband-describe-being-invited-to-couples-","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"The Guardian"},{"url":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told","name":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/russell-brand-trial-accusers-nothing-to-gain-media-court-told)","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"The Guardian"},{"url":"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham","name":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/30/local-devolution-decisions-scotland-wales-first-ministers-tell-burnham) NAMES: Holyrood = the","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"The Guardian"},{"url":"https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter","name":"[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/30/iopc-watchdog-investigate-met-police-meghan-warning-letter) NAMES: IOPC = Independent Office f","kind":"news","verdict":"TRUE","author":"The Guardian"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793385667227-news-segment-treasury-blocks-175-million-in-dead-payouts","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/news","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793385667227-news-segment-treasury-blocks-175-million-in-dead-payouts","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793385667227-news-segment-treasury-blocks-175-million-in-dead-payouts and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Bella","text":"Let's move on. Axios just posted that a federal judge opened a formal inquiry into whether Trump's Justice Department misled her about a golf course plan."},{"host":"Brian","text":"That's East Potomac Golf Links in D.C. The administration wants to remake it."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Judge Ana Reyes wasn't shy. She read the D.C. Bar truthfulness rules in court."},{"host":"Brian","text":"That's a warning shot. If DOJ lawyers signed off on misleading filings, that's serious."},{"host":"Bella","text":"The judge hasn't found misconduct. It's an inquiry. But she's clearly skeptical of what she's been told."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I want to know what specifically they supposedly misled on. Was it a deadline or a factual claim?"},{"host":"Bella","text":"The reporting says the judge questioned the government's candor repeatedly over the golf plan. That's not minor."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Procedural candor can be an honest mistake. We're not talking about a criminal matter."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Oh, come on. Lawyers have a duty of candor. A federal judge reading bar rules is not doing it for fun."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I'm not saying it's nothing. I'm saying let's see the evidence before we hang them."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Fine. But if DOJ got caught playing games with a judge, that undercuts its credibility in every immigration and criminal case it touches."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And for once, this isn't about partisan spin. It's about what a judge saw in the filings."},{"host":"Brian","text":"No, it's about whether anyone in the administration understands that courts are not an extension of the campaign."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Meanwhile, Pakistan is trying to sound hopeful about Iran and the U.S., with a warning attached."},{"host":"Bella","text":"What's the warning?"},{"host":"Brian","text":"Its military spokesman says Islamabad is 'cautiously optimistic' about mediation, but 'powerful spoilers and detractors' could undermine it."},{"host":"Bella","text":"That's a diplomat's way of saying don't get comfortable."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Right. They didn't name the spoilers, but in that neighborhood, everyone suspects Hezbollah, the Houthis, or hardliners in Tehran."},{"host":"Bella","text":"The honest take: Pakistan wants a deal because escalation on its border region is a nightmare."},{"host":"Brian","text":"They also get to play peacemaker without actually guaranteeing anything."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Which is the entire history of Pakistani foreign policy in one sentence."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And on the trade front, China is promising countermeasures over an FCC ban on Chinese lab testing."},{"host":"Brian","text":"The FCC says those labs are security risks. China says that's protectionist."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Reuters reports Beijing will retaliate if the U.S. presses ahead. They always say that."},{"host":"Brian","text":"But chip and telecom testing is genuinely sensitive. We're not talking about toys."},{"host":"Bella","text":"No, we're talking about who gets to certify whether U.S. networks are safe. That's a real lever."},{"host":"Brian","text":"So maybe both sides have a point, but Beijing's countermeasure threat is noise until they file."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Exactly. It's a warning, not a trade war."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Unless they hit U.S. lab companies in China first. Then we'll see how real it is."}]}