Curtis pushes for honest debate, signals upcoming proposal to reform Social Security for younger generations
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) sparked renewed debate over Social Security cuts on Sunday, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that lawmakers are misleading the public when they claim the popular retirement program won’t be altered. His comments come as public anxiety grows amid spending reform efforts championed by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“We’re not being honest when we look people in the eye and say we’re not going to touch it,” Curtis said. “If we don’t touch it, it touches itself.”
Social Security: Political Pressure vs. Financial Reality
Curtis acknowledged the political sensitivity of reforming Social Security—long considered a “third rail” in American politics—but argued that failing to act will worsen the program’s long-term solvency issues.
He emphasized that Americans near retirement would be protected from any immediate changes. “We all need to say, those in retirement and those near retirement, we’re not going to touch it, you’re safe,” he said. “But let’s have that conversation” for younger generations who doubt the system will still exist for them.
The Utah senator said he plans to introduce legislation to reform Social Security “in a few months,” though no details of the proposal have been released. A spokesperson declined to elaborate on the bill’s contents.
The GOP’s Cost-Cutting Agenda
The comments arrive as Republicans continue to focus on reducing the federal deficit, with the Trump administration making cost-cutting a key pillar of its second-term agenda. Under DOGE, several Social Security offices have closed, and call center services have been scaled back.
Elon Musk, who advises the White House on efficiency reforms, has openly criticized Social Security’s long-term viability. Though he holds no formal authority, his influence has fueled concerns among Trump’s allies that cuts may be deeper than anticipated.
Curtis sought to calm those fears, saying, “Elon Musk is not making any cuts. He’s only suggesting the cuts, and then President Trump is making the cuts.”
Public Skepticism Grows
Despite Curtis’s reassurances, recent polling shows a divided public. An NBC News poll found that 47% of voters view DOGE negatively, and 51% hold unfavorable views of Musk. Meanwhile, 46% said DOGE was a “good idea,” reflecting the complicated public response to fast-moving federal reforms.
Curtis also dismissed the idea that Trump ally Elon Musk was overstepping his role. “President Trump can consult anybody he wants to,” he said, labeling criticism of Musk’s involvement a “false narrative.”
A Turning Point for Social Security Policy?
Curtis’s comments mark one of the most candid acknowledgments from a sitting Republican senator that Social Security, in its current form, may be unsustainable. While many politicians across the aisle avoid discussing potential reforms, Curtis called for transparency and early action.
“The sooner we do it, the less dramatic it has to be,” he said. “If we don’t do it, we have worse decisions thrust upon us.”
With legislative proposals expected and the Trump administration already altering services through DOGE, the conversation around Social Security cuts is quickly shifting from political taboo to fiscal necessity.
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