California obtained millions in federal funds to cover phone and internet service for 94,000 dead people, a new report from the Federal Communications Commission has revealed.
The state took in $3.8 million between 2020 and 2025 through the federal Lifeline program, which spends nearly $1 billion annually to subsidize phone and internet service for low-income Americans, according to the FCC’s inspector general.
According to the FCC, millions in taxpayer dollars went to dead Californians for phones and internet service on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s watch. AFP via Getty ImagesOf the three states named in the report, California collected the most money by a long shot — accounting for more than 80% of the payments, the report said.
From 2020–2025, Lifeline providers in opt-out states sought and received nearly $5M in reimbursements from the FCC for deceased individuals. FCC
New Inspector General Advisory shows millions of dollars approved by California to provide phone and Internet service to more than 94,000 people who were already dead. X/BrendanCarrFCC
“Gavin Newsom’s California was by far the worst offender of these opt-out states,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr wrote on X, referencing states that oversaw the program’s verification process for recipients. He said that the FCC has revoked the state’s authority to manage verification.
Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Of the 116,808 deceased individuals in opt-out states, roughly two-thirds (77,446) died after they were enrolled, the report stated.
A further 19% (22,588) may have died before enrollment, while 15% (16,774) were confirmed dead prior to being claimed. The FCC said this clearly demonstrates “fraudulent conduct” involving enrollments of individuals who had already died.
“Newsom’s California was by far the worst offender of these opt-out states,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr wrote on X. APThe California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees the LifeLine program, said in a statement that the FCC “acknowledges that the vast majority of California subscribers were eligible and enrolled while alive, and that any improper payments largely reflect lag time between a death and account closure, not failures at enrollment.”
“We take program integrity seriously. But it’s misleading — and political — to single out California. This is a nationwide issue, not a California scandal,” the statement said.
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