By Ricky Dana
Republicans in Washington are working quietly to change Social Security as we know it. Their goal? Hand parts of it over to Wall Street and private investors—without telling the public what’s really happening.
Secret Commissions to Cut Benefits
Republicans in Congress want to create a closed-door commission that would come up with changes to Social Security and Medicare. This group would meet in private, then send their plan to Congress for a vote—with no public hearings or changes allowed. It’s a way to cut benefits without voters noticing until it’s too late.
Service Cuts Make the System Harder to Use
Trump’s administration has already cut over 7,000 jobs at the Social Security Administration. That means fewer workers, longer wait times, and worse service. These cuts hurt seniors and people with disabilities—and make it easier to argue the system isn’t working.
Risky Private Investment Accounts
Some Republicans are pushing plans to move Social Security money into private accounts—similar to a 401(k). Instead of a guaranteed monthly check, people would be forced to gamble their future on the stock market. These plans don’t protect you—they protect the profits of big financial companies.
Scare Tactics and Confusing Language
Republicans often say Social Security is “going broke” or full of “fraud.” These scare tactics are used to make you believe the system can’t be fixed unless we turn it over to private businesses. But that’s not true. Social Security is still strong, and we can strengthen it without cutting benefits or privatizing it.
They Know It’s Unpopular—That’s Why It’s Secret
Even Senator Joni Ernst said they need to talk about cutting Social Security “behind closed doors” because it’s not something people want. If the plan was good for Americans, they wouldn’t be hiding it from us.
Why This Matters to You
- You could lose your guaranteed retirement check.
- Your future income might depend on risky stock investments.
- Big Wall Street companies would take fees from your retirement.
- You’d be left with fewer protections and more uncertainty.
We should be improving Social Security—not tearing it apart in secret. I believe in protecting the benefits you’ve earned, not turning them into a gamble. I’ll keep fighting to stop these efforts and make sure Social Security stays strong for every Missourian.