Duckworth, Warren, Blumenthal Press Trump on Republicans’ Threats to Social Security’s Future

June 16, 2026 Duckworth, Warren, Blumenthal Press Trump on Republicans’ Threats to Social Security’s Future [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in pressing President Donald Trump on Republican threats to Social Security after a new Trustees Report revealed that Republican policies are accelerating Social Security’s insolvency. The Senators’ letter also follows a series of comments from Trump Administration officials and Republican leaders in Congress suggesting that they support benefit cuts. “These comments cast fresh doubt on your ‘sacred pledge’ to ‘always protect Social Security’ – and your failure to respond to our previous requests for assurances – we urge you to clarify the administration’s stance on raising the retirement age,” wrote the Senators. The Social Security Administration's 2026 Trustees Report revealed that Trump and Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will worsen the trust fund's finances and accelerate its insolvency. Republicans have long supported increasing the retirement age, privatizing Social Security or otherwise cutting Social Security benefits—and some have continued to make explicit threats even after Trump promised not to ‘touch’ Social Security. Just last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that Republicans intend to cut Social Security, along with Medicare and Medicaid, if they are in a position to do so next Congress. Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano previously indicated that raising the retirement age—a critical cut to Americans’ benefits—is under consideration. A Senate Republican in a March Budget Committee hearing also suggested raising the retirement age—which would, in practice, reduce the median retiree’s monthly benefits and disproportionately harm low-income seniors. And Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz called for Americans to delay their retirement and work longer in order to pay for the federal deficit, which Trump’s OBBBA increased. “The new estimates showing that your OBBBA will hasten the demise of the Social Security trust fund, the ongoing pattern of comments suggesting that Republicans will seek to increase the retirement age or otherwise cut Social Security benefits and the SSA customer service chaos that is occurring under your watch and making it more difficult for older Americans to interact with the agency when they need assistance raise new questions about whether you will break – or are already – breaking your promise to ‘not touch’ Social Security,” wrote the Senators. “Raising the retirement age – or otherwise cutting benefits – only worsens the looming retirement income crisis, and, as we outlined in our initial letter to you, doing so hurts older Americans, cutting monthly benefits and forcing millions into poverty,” continued the Senators. The Senators pressed President Trump for answers to a series of questions regarding the Administration's plans for Social Security, including whether he supports raising the retirement age, whether he would veto legislation that increases the age of eligibility for Social Security and whether White House officials have discussed raising the retirement age with Administrator Oz. The Senators requested a response by June 27, 2026. A copy of the full letter to President Trump is available on Senator Duckworth’s website . Duckworth is a longtime advocate for protecting Social Security for current beneficiaries and future generations, and has been warning against the Trump Administration’s thinly veiled intent to privatize the program . Last Congress, Duckworth cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act —which is now law—that ensured public sector workers like teachers, law enforcement officers and their families were able to receive full Social Security benefits after previous statutes in had reduced them. Duckworth has also helped secure funding to enable the Social Security Administration (SSA) to process claims quicker. -30- Print Tweet Previous Article