08-19-2025

90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: Proclamation 10964 is a presidential document commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act. It outlines the administration's policy achievements and goals for the program, including providing a major tax break for seniors, combating fraud, and linking the program's solvency to border security. (Proclamation 10964)

Money: The proclamation itself does not authorize or appropriate money. However, it references the "One Big Beautiful Bill," a separate piece of legislation that it claims provides the "largest tax break for seniors in the history of our country" by making the majority of Social Security benefits tax-free. (Proclamation 10964) It also claims that rooting out fraud and waste will save taxpayers billions of dollars annually. (Proclamation 10964)

Your Impact: For most Americans, the proclamation is a symbolic statement. However, the policies it describes would have a direct effect, most notably for seniors receiving Social Security, who would see a significant reduction in their federal income tax liability under the referenced legislation.

Status: Issued and published in the Federal Register on August 19, 2025.

What's Actually in the Proclamation

This document is a formal, public declaration by the President. It does not create new law but serves to honor a historical milestone—the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935—and to state the administration's policy priorities and actions regarding the program. (Proclamation 10964)

Key Policy Declarations:

  • A significant tax reduction for seniors was enacted through the "One Big Beautiful Bill," making the "vast majority" of Social Security benefits tax-free. (Proclamation 10964)
  • The administration is actively working to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse by stopping payments to deceased individuals and removing ineligible recipients. (Proclamation 10964)
  • Efforts are being made to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the Social Security Administration to reduce wait times and improve service. (Proclamation 10964)
  • The administration asserts that "strong border security policies" are necessary to preserve Social Security and Medicare for citizens and prevent misuse by undocumented immigrants. (Proclamation 10964)

Stated Purpose (from the Author):

The proclamation's stated purpose is to recognize the contributions of American seniors and recommit to strengthening the nation's retirement system. (Proclamation 10964) The key objectives mentioned are:

  1. To defend and strengthen the Social Security program. (Proclamation 10964)
  2. To reward hardworking Americans and provide them with stability and relief. (Proclamation 10964)
  3. To protect Social Security and Medicare from fraud and abuse. (Proclamation 10964)
  4. To ensure future generations of American citizens have the income security they have earned. (Proclamation 10964)

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Social Security, Taxation, Federal Government Administration.
Timeline: The proclamation was issued on August 14, 2025. (Proclamation 10964)
Scope: Nationwide, with a primary focus on current and future Social Security beneficiaries.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Great Depression and the New Deal (1930s):

Prior to 1935, the United States was one of the few industrialized nations without a national social insurance system. The Great Depression devastated the country, with poverty rates among the elderly exceeding 50 percent. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a committee to develop a social welfare program. This led to the signing of the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935, creating a national old-age pension system funded by payroll taxes on employers and employees.

Program Expansion and Challenges (1939-Present):

Over the decades, Social Security was amended to include dependents, survivors, and disabled individuals. However, for years, annual reports have warned that the program faces long-term funding shortfalls, with projections showing that outlays will outpace revenues. By the 2030s, the Social Security trust funds are projected to be depleted, which would trigger automatic benefit cuts if no legislative changes are made.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • The proclamation was issued to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, a significant milestone for a popular government program.
  • With nearly 73 million people relying on Social Security, the program is a critical issue for a large voting bloc, particularly seniors.
  • The statement serves to highlight the administration's policy priorities—tax cuts, fraud prevention, and border security—and frame them as solutions to ensure the program's long-term stability.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: The proclamation itself has no direct legal effect, but the policies it promotes—especially the tax cut on benefits—would directly affect seniors and have broader implications for all taxpayers.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • Tax Savings for Seniors: The most significant potential benefit is the elimination of federal taxes on most Social Security benefits, as described in the proclamation, which would increase the disposable income of millions of retirees. (Proclamation 10964)
  • Improved Customer Service: The stated goal of making the Social Security Administration more efficient could lead to shorter wait times for assistance and faster processing of claims. (Proclamation 10964)

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (1-3 Years):

  • Increased Scrutiny: Efforts to "root out all fraud, waste, and abuse" could lead to more stringent eligibility verification, potentially causing delays or challenges for some legitimate beneficiaries. (Proclamation 10964)

Long-term:

  • Reduced Federal Revenue: A large tax cut on Social Security benefits would significantly decrease federal tax revenue, potentially leading to a larger national debt or future spending cuts in other areas unless offset by other measures.
  • Benefit Solvency: While the proclamation asserts its policies will strengthen Social Security, critics of linking the program to immigration policy argue that reduced immigration could actually worsen the program's funding gap, as new workers contribute payroll taxes.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Current and future Social Security beneficiaries, particularly retirees who would benefit from the tax cut.
Secondary Groups: All U.S. taxpayers, due to the fiscal implications of a major tax reduction. Immigrants are also affected by the policy linking border security to entitlement programs.
Regional Impact: States with a higher population of retirees would see a more concentrated economic impact from the tax cut on Social Security benefits.

Bottom Line: The policies outlined in the proclamation aim to provide immediate financial relief to seniors through a significant tax cut while addressing the program's long-term health through administrative and security measures.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Protecting Earned Benefits"

Core Stance: The party platform generally pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare for current seniors without cutting benefits.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Stated commitment to not cutting benefits for seniors and ensuring the long-term solvency of the program.
  • ✓ Emphasis on economic growth, fraud reduction, and border security as key mechanisms to preserve Social Security and Medicare funding.
  • ✗ Opposition to tax increases, including raising the cap on income subject to the payroll tax, as a means to fund the system.

Legislative Strategy: Focus on promoting economic growth to boost payroll tax revenues and implementing administrative reforms to cut waste, rather than altering the benefit or tax structure.

Democratic Position: "Strengthen and Expand Benefits"

Core Stance: The party is committed to protecting Social Security from cuts and seeks to expand benefits for recipients.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support for strengthening the program by asking wealthier Americans to pay more into the system, often by raising the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security tax.
  • ✓ Proposing to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
  • ✗ Strong opposition to privatization, raising the retirement age, or cutting benefits that Americans have earned.

Legislative Strategy: Pushing for legislation that would increase revenues by adjusting the payroll tax on high earners to ensure solvency and allow for benefit expansion.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The President's authority to issue proclamations is an implied power derived from Article II of the Constitution. While not explicitly defined, proclamations are a long-standing tool used by presidents to make official announcements, often for ceremonial purposes or to declare policy.

Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution: "[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..."

Constitutional Implications:

Executive Power: This proclamation is primarily a ceremonial and policy-stating document. It does not create law, appropriate funds, or direct government agencies in the way an executive order might. As such, it falls well within the traditional use of presidential proclamations.
Precedent: Every U.S. President since George Washington has issued proclamations for various purposes, from observing national holidays to declaring policy stances.
Federalism: The proclamation addresses a federal program (Social Security) and does not intrude on powers reserved for the states.

Potential Legal Challenges:

There are no likely legal challenges to this proclamation, as it is a form of presidential speech and does not carry the force of law in a way that could be contested in court.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support the administration's policies of cutting taxes on Social Security benefits and strengthening fraud prevention."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact your representatives and the White House to express detailed support for the policies outlined in the proclamation.
  • Join an Organization: Groups that advocate for market-based solutions and fiscal conservatism in entitlement reform include the Cato Institute.

TO OPPOSE THE POLICIES

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to oppose the policies outlined in the proclamation and instead focus on [e.g., asking the wealthy to pay their fair share, expanding benefits]."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper explaining your opposition to the administration's approach to Social Security.
  • Join an Organization: Advocacy groups that work to protect and expand Social Security benefits include AARP and the Alliance for Retired Americans.