Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is facing scrutiny for his past advocacy of significant cuts to social safety net programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. During his tenure as chair of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) from 2019 to 2021, Johnson helped craft budget resolutions calling for approximately $2 trillion in Medicare cuts, $3 trillion in Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts, and $750 billion in Social Security cuts. These proposals also endorsed raising the Social Security retirement age, reducing annual cost-of-living benefit increases, and advancing privatization efforts.
Alex Lawson, executive director of the progressive advocacy group Social Security Works, criticized Johnson’s stance, highlighting his attempt to link forced births to funding Social Security. Lawson expressed concerns that Johnson, now Speaker, might push for cuts behind closed doors, urging the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats to protect social safety net programs from such proposals.
These positions align with the broader stance of the House Republican caucus. Earlier this year, the RSC, now chaired by Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), proposed gradually raising the Social Security retirement age to 69, a move that would lead to across-the-board benefit cuts. The RSC, representing three-quarters of the House GOP caucus, also suggested transforming Medicare into a voucher program and making substantial cuts to Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Affordable Care Act subsidies.
