A Republican lawmaker said politicians on Capitol Hill are "not being honest" when they say they won't touch Social Security.

Why It Matters

Sometimes referred to as the "third rail"—an untouchable public policy due to its overwhelming popularity—Social Security is relied on by tens of millions of Americans. An estimated 53 million retirees—roughly 16 percent of the population—were collecting monthly payments at the end of 2024.

President Donald Trump has said on numerous occasions that he has no plans to cut Social Security benefits. But the program is facing a looming insolvency crisis that could see benefits automatically cut in the years to come.

What to Know

Utah Senator John Curtis said politicians are "not being honest" about the future of Social Security in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press on March 23.

"We're not being honest when we look people in the eye and say we're not going to touch it. If we don't touch it, it touches itself," Curtis told moderator Kristen Welker. "You know that, right? That's not being honest with the American people, and I think that's one of the things that makes them not trust us, when we say something that they just know is not true."

U.S. Senator John Curtis arrives for the Senate Republican leadership elections at the U.S. Capitol on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch/GETTY© Kevin Dietsch/GETTY

Writing on X, Curtis clarified he was talking about Social Security's looming solvency issues. The program is facing depletion of its Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program trust funds, which help shore up benefits along with regular taxation on the workforce.

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If a solution is not found in the coming years, benefits could be cut by 17 percent in 2035, according to a 2024 report from the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of the Inspector General.

"Younger Americans deserve an honest conversation," Curtis wrote. "Many don't believe they'll receive anything because the program is heading toward insolvency. The sooner we save Social Security for our children and grandchildren, the less dramatic the changes will need to be."

Trump and Social Security

The president has said on numerous occasions that he will not cut Social Security benefits. In March 2024, he told Breitbart: "I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare."

Trump also said in January this year that his administration would "love and cherish" Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

"We're not going to do anything with that, unless we can find some abuse or waste," he said. "The people won't be affected. It will only be more effective and better."

What People Are Saying

Curtis said in the NBC interview: "We all need to say, those in retirement and those near retirement, we're not going to touch it, you're safe. But let's have that conversation, because my kids don't think they're going to get it. So why can't we have a conversation with them about moving some of the variables around, and the sooner we do it, the less dramatic it has to be. If we don't do it, we have worse decisions thrust upon us."

Stephen Kates, principal financial analyst for RetireGuide.com, previously told Newsweek: "Americans, on average, depend on Social Security benefits for close to 40 percent of their retirement income. If nothing is done to address shortfalls, the expected 20 percent reduction in benefits will significantly impact many retirees' ability to maintain their lifestyles."

What's Next

Curtis said in the interview he would "introduce a change to Social Security" in the coming months. Newsweek has contacted Curtis' office for comment via email.

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