US Treasury expands Do Not Pay system to 99% of federal programs

The US Treasury Department has expanded its ‘Do Not Pay’ system, which now screens $3.7 trillion in federal payments across nearly all federal programs. While the system’s reach has grown from approximately 4% of programs a year ago to 99% currently, legal restrictions limit its verification capabilities.

Under existing law, the Treasury is permitted to check Social Security numbers for only 11 specific programs categorized as ‘health and income maintenance.’ Consequently, the department cannot currently check employer identification numbers against IRS records for most programs.

Despite these limitations, the system successfully used death records to intercept 13,500 payments worth $175 million intended for deceased individuals. The Government Accountability Office estimated that federal agencies faced $186 billion in improper payments for fiscal 2025. The Treasury is currently seeking expanded authority from Congress to improve verification processes.