diff --git a/src/djangooidc/backends.py b/src/djangooidc/backends.py
index cf326eca4..7a192e4a5 100644
--- a/src/djangooidc/backends.py
+++ b/src/djangooidc/backends.py
@@ -65,8 +65,9 @@ class OpenIdConnectBackend(ModelBackend):
         return user
 
     def update_existing_user(self, user, kwargs):
-        # Update other fields without overwriting first_name and last_name.
-        # Overwrite first_name and last_name if not empty string
+        """Update other fields without overwriting first_name and last_name.
+        Overwrite first_name and last_name if not empty string"""
+        
         for key, value in kwargs.items():
             # Check if the key is not first_name or last_name or value is not empty string
             if key not in ["first_name", "last_name"] or value:
diff --git a/src/registrar/management/commands/copy_names_from_contacts_to_users.py b/src/registrar/management/commands/copy_names_from_contacts_to_users.py
index c5e2364e9..6d089f721 100644
--- a/src/registrar/management/commands/copy_names_from_contacts_to_users.py
+++ b/src/registrar/management/commands/copy_names_from_contacts_to_users.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = """Copy first and last names from a contact to
     a related user if it exists and if its first and last name
-    properties are null"""
+    properties are null or blank strings."""
 
     # ======================================================
     # ===================== ARGUMENTS  =====================
@@ -112,12 +112,12 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 # ---- UPDATE THE USER IF IT DOES NOT HAVE A FIRST AND LAST NAMES
                 # ---- LET'S KEEP A LIGHT TOUCH
                 if not eligible_user.first_name and not eligible_user.last_name:
-                    processed_user = eligible_user
                     # (expression has type "str | None", variable has type "str | int | Combinable")
                     # so we'll ignore type
-                    processed_user.first_name = contact.first_name  # type: ignore
-                    processed_user.last_name = contact.last_name  # type: ignore
-                    processed_user.save()
+                    eligible_user.first_name = contact.first_name  # type: ignore
+                    eligible_user.last_name = contact.last_name  # type: ignore
+                    eligible_user.save()
+                    processed_user = eligible_user
 
                 return (
                     eligible_user,
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def process_contacts(
         self,
         debug_on,
-        skipped_contacts,
-        eligible_users,
-        processed_users,
+        skipped_contacts=[],
+        eligible_users=[],
+        processed_users=[],
     ):
         for contact in Contact.objects.all():
             # DEBUG:
@@ -207,15 +207,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         self.print_debug_mode_statements(debug_on)
 
-        # users we SKIPPED
-        skipped_contacts = []
-
-        # users we found that are linked to contacts
-        eligible_users = []
-
-        # users we PROCESSED
-        processed_users = []
-
         logger.info(
             f"""{TerminalColors.OKCYAN}
             ==========================
@@ -235,9 +226,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             processed_users,
         ) = self.process_contacts(
             debug_on,
-            skipped_contacts,
-            eligible_users,
-            processed_users,
         )
 
         self.print_summary_of_findings(
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/common.py b/src/registrar/tests/common.py
index 87bad0dfb..443c05ee3 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/common.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/common.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class AuditedAdminMockData:
         user = User.objects.get_or_create(
             first_name="{} first_name:{}".format(item_name, short_hand),
             last_name="{} last_name:{}".format(item_name, short_hand),
-            username="{} username:{}".format(item_name, str(uuid.uuid4())[:8]),
+            username="{} username:{}".format(item_name + str(uuid.uuid4())[:8], short_hand),
         )[0]
         return user