GOP Medicare Reversal Spells Doom for Social Security

As tensions escalate between President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, Senate Republicans have sharpened their focus on finding social security budget cuts within the contentious “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The focus has shifted toward Medicare, prompting concerns that the program might be on the chopping block alongside the already slashed Medicaid.

Social Security Cuts

The Congressional Budget Office outlines that the House’s version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” will add a staggering $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

Despite the eye-watering deficit, some Senate Republicans are eager to further reduce spending in a bid to ease the bill’s financial impact. Alarmingly, this push has turned the gaze of GOP lawmakers toward Medicare, raising questions about the future of two critical entitlement programs, and by extension, Social Security.

Historically, the Republican agenda has favored cuts that affect the poorest, seeking reductions in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. However, with the House bill already slashing $1.3 trillion from these very initiatives, it appears that they are running out of fiscal targets.

The fallout from these decisions may disproportionately impact millions of Trump voters who rely on these programs for their livelihoods.

Oversight of Medicare

Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota has been vocal about the need for keen oversight on Medicare, arguing, “How much waste, fraud, abuse is there in Medicare — why don’t we go after that? I think we should.”

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that discussions should primarily focus on addressing “waste, fraud and abuse.”

Social Security Questions

In a meeting with Senate Republicans, President Trump underscored his opposition to cuts that would directly impact beneficiaries, highlighting concerns about “waste, fraud, and abuse” as the primary motivators for these proposed reductions.

Senator Steve Daines of Montana relayed the president’s stance after their discussion, stating, “What the president made clear is [he] does not want to see any cuts to beneficiaries.”

Despite these assurances, the GOP’s focus on Medicare raises critical questions regarding Social Security. Many Americans regard these entitlement programs as necessary safety nets. Yet, public opinion has shown submerged skepticism regarding GOP rhetoric; a recent KFF poll indicated that 70% of Americans, including 44% of Republicans, feared that the bill would lead to an increase in uninsured individuals, a stark indication that the party’s messaging is not resonating with voters.

Fear of More Cuts

Even within the Republican ranks, there exists a palpable fear of moving toward Medicare cuts.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is particularly apprehensive about going down this road, warning that historical precedents indicate dire political consequences.

“We should not be touching Medicare,” Hawley remarked, recalling the aftermath of President George W. Bush’s failed bid to privatize Social Security in 2004, which resulted in the GOP losing the popular vote for the subsequent two decades.

The specter of Social Security looms large as legislators consider their next moves.

President Trump has previously made promises that “Social Security won’t be touched, other than this fraud or something we’re going to find.” However, a pattern emerges in Trump’s approach, as he and Musk often claimed without evidence that “millions and millions” of Social Security recipients were deceased, despite the admission from the acting Social Security Administration commissioner that such claims were false.

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