Social Security Isn’t a Retirement Account—and Congress Must Stop Pretending It Is

A Social Security card sits alongside checks from the U.S. Treasury, in a file photo. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Commentary

The senators elected in fall 2026 won’t be able to avoid dealing with Social Security. The program is projected to hit a financial cliff before the end of 2032, forcing Congress to consider benefit reductions, higher taxes, or more borrowing.