Whistleblower alleges Social Security records targeted in immigration push

Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun on Jun 6, 2026

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A former senior Social Security Administration official alleges that Trump administration officials discussed a proposal to classify millions of living people as deceased in government records as part of an effort to pressure immigrants to leave the United States.

The allegations surfaced Thursday in a whistleblower disclosure made public by Democratic U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren, who are demanding answers from current and former administration officials involved with the Social Security Administration.

According to the disclosure, former SSA executive Jeremiah Schofield said he witnessed a discussion in which a former Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, official proposed assigning death dates to approximately 2.7 million living people in the agency’s database. Schofield alleges the plan was intended to disrupt their lives and encourage them to leave the country.

The allegations have not been independently verified. It remains unclear whether the proposal was ever formally considered by agency leadership, advanced beyond internal discussions or resulted in any changes to Social Security records. The whistleblower disclosure does not allege that records were altered.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and administration officials had not publicly responded to the claims as of Saturday.

The White House, SSA and Koval did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. The administration has previously argued that federal agencies should share information more effectively to enforce immigration laws and prevent fraud.

The disclosure was submitted through legal representatives at Whistleblower Aid and the law firm Katz Banks Kumin. Schofield’s attorneys contend the proposal would have constituted an unlawful use of Social Security records.

Being incorrectly listed as deceased in Social Security records can have significant consequences, including the loss of access to benefits, difficulties with employment verification, banking disruptions and problems obtaining credit.

Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the allegations raise concerns about whether government data was used to advance immigration enforcement efforts.

“Thanks to this brave whistleblower’s disclosure, we have more evidence that the Trump Administration used DOGE not just to recklessly slash government programs — they were looking for ways to purposefully hurt people, especially immigrants,” Blumenthal said in a statement.

Warren called the allegations “an illegal attempt” to use Social Security records to support the administration’s immigration agenda.

The senators have sent letters seeking information from SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano and several former DOGE-affiliated officials, including investor Jon Koval, who Schofield alleges discussed the proposal. They are also requesting that records related to the matter be preserved.

Congressional inquiries into the claims are ongoing.