Social Security’s Fate Hangs in the Balance As Trump’s Project 2025 Puts Retirement at Risk

Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative plan for government reform, has surged in prominence as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Serving as a detailed guide for a potential Trump administration, its 920 pages cover a broad spectrum of policies and government functions. However, its potential impact on Social Security remains a key concern for many Americans.

According to a report by Newsweek on Thursday, July 11, 2024, Project 2025 is managed by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Described as a policy “guide” and “playbook,” it outlines recommended actions for the first 180 days of a conservative government. According to the project’s introduction, it is the result of a “collective effort of hundreds of volunteers who have banded together in the spirit of advancing positive change for America.”

Critics, however, paint a starkly different picture. President Joe Biden’s campaign has warned that the project would “give Trump more power over your daily life, gut democratic checks and balances, and consolidate power in the Oval Office.” Similarly, the Center for American Progress contends that Project 2025 would “concentrate power in the hands of the president—and set in motion a plan to flood the civil service with far-right loyalists to seize control of independent agencies.” Democracy Forward has labeled it “among the most profound threats to the American people.”

Despite the extensive scope of Project 2025, which spans departments such as defense, homeland security, agriculture, education, and energy, it does not explicitly address Social Security policies. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 9, Project 2025 clarified that the “Mandate for Leadership does not advocate cutting Social Security.”

This absence of direct policy positions in the document has not allayed concerns, particularly given the Heritage Foundation’s past recommendations. In a June blog post, Rachel Greszler, a senior research fellow at the Roe Institute, proposed raising the normal eligibility age for Social Security retirement benefits to 70. This, she argued, would help mitigate the impending funding shortfall faced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Greszler suggested that policymakers should “gradually increase the normal retirement age from 67 to 69 or 70—moving the age up by one or two months per year—and index it to life expectancy.” This recommendation is seen as a significant shift that could have widespread implications for future retirees.

Zachary Pleat, a senior researcher at Media Matters, expressed concern about these proposed changes, noting that the Heritage Foundation “has played a central role in organizing the planned extremist takeover of the federal government known as Project 2025 for the next Republican president, is now calling for the Social Security retirement age to be raised to 70.” Adding to the debate, the Republican Study Committee, the largest group of conservatives in the House, proposed raising the retirement age earlier this year in March. This proposal aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s stance, further fueling the conversation about the future of Social Security under a conservative administration.�

Donald Trump’s position on Social Security has been consistent, particularly in his recent statements. In January 2023, as part of his Agenda47 campaign, Trump emphasized that “under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security.” This declaration aims to reassure voters about his commitment to preserving these essential programs, contrasting with the broader conservative push for reform as detailed in Project 2025.

As the 2024 election nears, the debate over Project 2025 and its implications for Social Security will likely intensify. Supporters argue that the project offers a comprehensive plan for positive change, while critics warn of the potential risks to democratic institutions and social safety nets. The future of Social Security, a vital program for millions of Americans, hangs in the balance as voters consider the policies and promises of the candidates vying for the presidency.