Larson, House Democrats Defeat Constitutional Amendment to Force Cuts to Social Security and Medicare

March 18, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after Democrats defeated House Republicans’ so-called “Balanced Budget Amendment,” which would propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to force deep cuts to programs across the federal government, including Social Security and Medicare. “In a rare moment of honesty, Elon Musk admitted that Social Security and Medicare were the Trump Administration’s ‘key targets’ for cuts. While ‘DOGE’ may have failed to find the trillions in savings Musk was looking for, the so-called ‘balanced budget amendment’ is the Republicans’ latest back-door attempt at gutting Americans’ hard-earned benefits,” said Larson . “It would force drastic cuts to Medicare, Social Security, food assistance, veterans’ benefits, and other programs American families depend on. My Republican colleagues can say this amendment is about fiscal responsibility all they want, but the reality is that the budget they passed last year ballooned our deficit by $4 trillion to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and give ICE a slush fund larger than most nation’s militaries. I was glad to see Democrats stand up and defeat this disastrous amendment tonight. We will continue to not only protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts, but fight to expand these programs so all Americans can retire with dignity – by making the wealthy pay their fair share.” Issues : Congressman Larson's Committees Health Care Judicial Social Security Standing Up to Trump and ‘DOGE’