Overview

• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identified nearly $400 million in fraudulent unemployment claims through a survey spanning 2020 to 2025.
• Findings include 24,500 individuals over 115 years old claiming $59 million, 28,000 children aged 1-5 claiming $254 million, and 9,700 people with future birthdates claiming $69 million.
• One case highlighted a claimant with a birthdate in 2154 who received $41,000 in benefits.
• Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and DOGE head Elon Musk emphasized the lack of basic verification checks and pledged to recover misallocated funds.
• The revelations have intensified scrutiny of pandemic-era unemployment programs, with officials and watchdogs calling for systemic reforms to prevent future fraud.