Social Security Update: Republican Says Cuts Should Be 'On the Table' [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 29, 2024 at 11:37 AM EST Updated Dec 29, 2024 at 3:26 PM EST


Republican New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu told CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday morning that Social Security cuts should be "on the table." However, Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, told Newsweek via email late Sunday morning, "As President Trump said many times on the campaign trail, there will be NO cuts to Medicare or Social Security, and there will be no tax on Social Security." Newsweek has reached out to Sununu's office via email for comment Sunday morning.

Why It Matters

There are nearly 56 million Americans aged 65 or older who receive Social Security. While Americans have been paying into the system for years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is scheduled to run out of money for full payments as early as 2035. Social Security is a dicey issue on Capitol Hill as lawmakers want to solve the federal program's insolvency crisis but don't want to upset their constituents who benefit from it.

What To Know

Appearing on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Sununu, who did not seek reelection this year, talked about what he hopes the government will do to rein in spending with the incoming Trump administration and a Republican-controlled House and Senate. "What they want to do in their political opportunity with the political momentum of this election is to build something lasting with a balanced budget amendment, taking on, maybe not tomorrow, but understanding the challenges of Social Security are real. I mean everyone's Social Security benefits get cut 17 percent—," he said.

Social Security officials project that program recipients could lose 17 percent of their benefits in 2035 if no legislative action is taken. Bash then chimed in: "But Trump's already said he's not going to touch Social Security." "And that's the challenge. Getting over that political hump. To get folks on the Hill to say, 'Either we deal with this in a crisis eight years from now or we deal with it in a more constructive way today," Sununu said.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-chris-sununu-donald-trump-2007109