FCC battles California, Newsom over free-phone fraud

The Federal Communications Commission will overhaul the government's decades-old Lifeline Program after discovering nearly $5 million has been spent on providing free phone and internet services to thousands of dead people, most of them in California.

The FCC's reforms target states, among them California, that opt out of the federal verification process required to qualify for the free services. The move has ignited a battle between FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate.

"It should go without saying that only beneficiaries that are both living and here legally should qualify for benefits under this program. But the data to date shows that this is not the case," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said.

Mr. Newsom's press team accused the FCC of politically targeting the state and the governor.