Members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, physically dragged a Social Security Administration senior executive out of his office. Career civil servant, Greg Pearre, was leading an IT team working on Musk’s DOGE’s data system that cuts off immigrants from financial services. When he shared his opposition to the plan, he was dragged from his office. Musk’s DOGE scheme is known as the “death master file.”
Immigrants Lose Benefits
If an immigrant is entered into the death database, it immediately cuts the person off from being able to receive any type of government benefits. It also prevents them from having access to checking accounts and credit cards. The goal of the “death master file” is to force immigrants who were granted temporary legal status under President Joe Biden’s administration to self-deport.
Maryland Woman Victim of Scheme
Consumer attorney Jim Francis is currently suing the Social Security Administration for wrongly listing a Maryland woman on its files. He says the scheme could have dire repercussions.“It’s the source of that data that the whole world uses, which is why, if it’s inaccurate, it has such devastating impacts on people. Overnight, you become financially paralyzed,” he told the Washington Post.
Man Had to Prove He Was Alive
In Colorado, 90-year-old Tom Kind was entered into the system. He found himself listed as deceased and called the situation a “nightmare.” He said he not only lost his financial aid and health insurance but also was faced with the difficult task of convincing the Social Security Administration that he was alive.
Kind says he was forced to jump through several hoops and in the end had to go in person to a Social Security Administration office in order to prove he was indeed alive. After much time and struggle Kind was actually finally able to get himself listed as alive. “That’s not any fun,” he said.
Homeland Security was Involved
Since February Musk and his DOGE team have been working on trying to force immigrants out. A team of 12 Social Security Administration employees were assigned to help Musk’s DOGE. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security were also a part of the scheme. Several members of the team were concerned that the project was illegal.
The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner, Leland Dudek, showed a willingness to help with the project but also became concerned the project was not legal. However, he made the decision to support the project.
Kristi Noem Pressured Agents
Due to pressure from the Trump administration’s homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, Dudek signed two memoranda on Monday, which allowed the database change. The database has over 6,000 immigrants listed as dead who are alive and well. Pearre was physically removed from the project just a few days later because he pushed back against the scheme.
Press Secretary Defends Scheme
Despite evidence suggesting otherwise, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the death dossier legitimate and downplayed the internal backlash.“The Trump Administration is protecting lawful American citizens and their hard-earned Social Security benefits, and ensuring illegal immigrants will no longer receive such economic entitlements. Anyone who disagrees with the common-sense policies of this Administration can find a new job.”
