Ranking Members Larson, Neal, and Doggett Statement on the 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report

Washington, D.C. - Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) released the following statement on the 2026 Social Security and Medicare trustees report:

"Throughout a lifetime of hard work and playing by the rules, Social Security and Medicare make it possible for every senior to have a shot at retiring with dignity and peace of mind. For generations, these programs have delivered, standing tall as central pillars of our retirement and health care systems.

"Today's report demonstrates the urgent need for Congress to act to protect Social Security and Medicare. Instead of joining Democrats to protect and enhance these programs, Donald Trump and Republicans are busy sabotaging them. After DOGE took a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration under false pretenses, all Americans got were slashed customer service and their most personal data put at risk-without a penny saved. Combined with their sole legislative achievement pricing millions out of coverage and putting Medicare on the chopping block, there is no greater threat to Americans' wellbeing than Republican governance.

"That's because for Republicans it's not about improvement but rather undermining functionality and the public's trust. We've seen whistleblower after whistleblower show us the disdain the Administration has for the people. Whether it's mishandling their private data, exposing Social Security numbers on a Medicare portal, or a scrapped plan to mark millions of living people as dead to force them out of the country, with each revelation the Trump Administration displays more cruelty and incompetence.

"Republicans have long sought to destroy Social Security and Medicare but have always been met with an unwavering Democratic fight preventing it from happening. We've never allowed them to take away a lifetime of hard work from America's seniors, and that won't stop for every retiree to come. Democrats are ready to act to protect Medicare and strengthen Social Security by making the wealthy finally pay their fair share, so every American can retire with dignity."