DOGE Reports Major Social Security Record Cleanup: 7 Million Marked Deceased

Washington, D.C. – In a significant update, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced a major initiative to clean up Social Security records, resulting in approximately 7 million number holders, all listed as aged 120 or older, being marked as deceased over the past three weeks. This effort, led by DOGE, aims to streamline government records and ensure accuracy in Social Security data, with an additional 5 million records still slated for review.

According to DOGE, the cleanup process addresses outdated records that have long been a source of inefficiency within the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many of the records being updated pertain to individuals who were never receiving benefits but lacked a recorded date of death. This clarification by the SSA highlights the limited direct impact on current beneficiaries, addressing some public concerns.

The department shared detailed figures showing the scope of the changes. As of March 8, the living count for individuals aged 120–129 stood at 3,467,066, but by March 24, this number had dropped to 1,671,715—a reduction of 1,795,351. Similar reductions occurred across other age groups:

130–139: Decreased from 3,929,750 to 1,480,061 (-2,449,689)
140–149: Decreased from 3,548,746 to 1,108,994 (-2,439,752)
150–159: Decreased from 1,357,967 to 950,963 (-407,004)

In total, 7,091,796 records have been updated to reflect a deceased status. DOGE emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader mission to enhance government efficiency and reduce waste, a key focus under its leadership.

While DOGE has not elaborated extensively on the mechanism for verifying records, it assures the public that efforts are underway to review another 5 million entries to further improve accuracy. “This cleanup is a critical step in ensuring that Social Security records reflect reality,” the department stated.

This move has sparked discussions among policy experts and advocates for Social Security reform. Some have welcomed the effort as necessary for eliminating discrepancies and preventing potential fraud, while others have raised concerns about the potential for errors in marking living individuals as deceased and the broader implications for beneficiaries.

DOGE, a relatively new initiative spearheaded by prominent figures like Elon Musk, has been tasked with identifying and addressing inefficiencies across various government agencies. This Social Security record cleanup marks one of its most significant actions to date. Transparency in communication and public accountability will likely be key areas of focus as the cleanup progresses.

For now, the public and policymakers will closely monitor how these changes impact the broader Social Security system and whether they pave the way for further reforms. Updates on the review of the remaining 5 million records are expected in the coming weeks.