After Lying That Trump Wants to Cut Social Security, Dems Rush Bill That Will Cut Benefits - Need Biden to Sign Before Trump Arrives

Democrats are now facing criticism for engaging in the very action they have accused President-elect Donald Trump of pursuing: cutting Social Security.

According to a report from the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Senate Democrats are attempting to pass a Social Security reform bill before Trump assumes office. The legislation, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, seeks to repeal provisions that currently reduce payouts to public sector workers, including police officers, firefighters, teachers, and postal employees.

However, the potential consequences of this move have raised concerns. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), as cited by the Mail, warns that this bill could hasten Social Security’s insolvency by six months. The change would provide increased benefits to approximately 3 million individuals who contributed to state or local pensions that did not also pay into Social Security.

The CRFB has highlighted the broader implications of the bill, stating, “As a result, we estimate a typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033 would see their benefits cut by an additional $25,000 over their lifetime.” Additionally, they note that under this proposal, the average couple could lose up to $400,000 in benefits if Social Security becomes insolvent. Over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost $190 billion.

The bill has already passed in the House of Representatives, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a Senate vote. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul has proposed an amendment to gradually raise the retirement age to 70 to address the program's funding challenges.

“It speeds the bankruptcy of Social Security,” Paul said in an interview with The Hill. “Social Security is due to go bankrupt in 2034. This will speed it up by a year or so. It’s $200 billion added to a program that is already short of money,” he added, emphasizing, “If you’re going to add to its mandate by expanding it, you should pay for it.”

Schumer, however, has framed the bill in altruistic terms, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “It would ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned social security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service.”

Despite the proposal’s immediate benefits for some, critics argue it represents a short-term fix that could lead to significant long-term consequences.

This development is particularly notable in light of Democrats’ frequent accusations that Trump seeks to undermine Social Security. Just days before the election, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed on X that Trump was targeting Social Security. Similarly, President Joe Biden declared in a May press release, “Medicare is stronger and Social Security remains strong. As long as I am President, I will keep strengthening Social Security and Medicare and protecting them from Republicans’ attempts to cut benefits Americans have earned.”

In July, Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries invoked Project 2025 as a supposed threat, claiming, “Trump’s Project 2025 will end Social Security and Medicare as we know it.”

However, Trump has taken a different stance. Earlier this month, he reiterated, “We’re not touching Social Security,” as part of his broader focus on controlling government spending without impacting the program.

Under the Democrats’ bill, however, not only will cuts likely occur, but the program’s insolvency could also be accelerated.

It remains unclear whether Democrats genuinely believe this legislation is beneficial or if it is designed to create future challenges for the incoming administration.

That said, there may be a simpler explanation. As Hanlon’s Razor suggests, one “shouldn’t attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”