Social Security Retirement Age: Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano caused a lot of confusion on Friday when he hinted that raising the retirement age might be under discussion. During a morning interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, he was asked if the administration might consider increasing the age at which Americans get full Social Security benefits, now set at 67.
Bisignano replied, “I think everything’s being considered and will be considered,” which immediately made people worry that Social Security cuts could be coming. He explained that any plan would start with the program’s trustees, which include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and would still need approval from Congress.
“The White House, which is completely committed to protect, and never cut, and then Congress, that’s where the real work will happen. And that’ll take a while, we have plenty of time,” he added.
Social Security Retirement Age: Clarification
By the afternoon, the Social Security Administration tried to calm everyone. On X, they posted a clear statement. Bisignano said, “Let me be clear: President Trump and I will always protect, and never cut, Social Security.”
He pointed out that the administration wants to fight “waste, fraud, and abuse” to make the program last longer. “Raising the retirement age is not under consideration,” the statement added, trying to stop the rumors.
The warnings came because federal projections show that Social Security’s trust funds could run out by 2034. If that happens, Congress would have to approve more money or reduce benefits. This problem has caused a lot of debate in Washington about what to do.
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Program’s Stability
Bisignano had reassured people earlier this year too. In May, during an interview with Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, he said, “We have no intent to break a system that can be improved.” He also predicted that working together with trustees and Congress would keep Social Security stable “for the next 90 years, at least.”
