A new report from the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of the Inspector General revealed that California, Texas, and Oregon obtained $5 million in reimbursements for the Lifeline program for 116,000 dead people. “Most troubling, at least 16,774 of the deceased Lifeline individuals were first claimed by a Lifeline provider after they died,” the OIG wrote. pic.twitter.com/Jn3m40VBGC — Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) January 27, 2026The FCC’s Lifeline program makes communications services affordable for low-income consumers. The OIG found:Between December 2020 and September 2025, Lifeline providers sought and received approximately $5 million in program subsidies from FCC on behalf of nearly 117,000 deceased opt-out state subscribers. Carr has proposed reforms to the FCC’s Lifeline program, which the Commission will vote on next month.