Congress Is Robbing the Social Security Trust Fund, and It Must Stop Now!

It’s outrageous that Congress continues to mislead the American people about the so-called “surplus” in the Social Security Trust Fund. The very definition of "surplus"—an excess of money left over after all requirements have been met—has been twisted to deceive the public. Most Americans believe this means there’s plenty of money set aside to cover future retirement benefits. But in truth, this "surplus" refers only to annual revenues exceeding yearly payouts. The government has been borrowing that money, which should be allocated for retirement, to fund other bloated spending, all while tricking people into thinking Social Security is secure.

It's not.

Here’s the real outrage: The specific term "surplus" did not explicitly appear in the original Social Security legislative language of the 1930s, nor in the 1983 amendments. The concept of using the word "surplus" was deliberately introduced to trick people into believing there was an excess of money in the fund that could be freely spent. This manipulation of language gave politicians cover to raid the Social Security Trust Fund with the tacit consent of the American people.

How Politicians Manipulated the Word 'Surplus'

While the 1983 amendments did not directly use the word "surplus," they set the stage for this misleading term to become central to the conversation around Social Security. The Social Security Amendments of 1983 were designed to generate excess revenues by raising payroll taxes and changing eligibility requirements, which created conditions where more money was being collected than was needed for immediate payouts. This led to the accumulation of funds in the Trust Fund, and politicians began to describe this as a "surplus." But it was never a surplus in the true sense of the word—it was simply excess revenue for that year.

Here's how the introduction of the word unfolded:

1. 1983 Amendments’ Purpose: These reforms aimed to build up reserves for the future, anticipating the retirement of the Baby Boomers. The increased payroll taxes led to annual revenue surpluses, which were deposited into the Trust Fund. These surpluses were not kept in cash but invested in government bonds, and politicians began referring to these annual balances as a "surplus."

2. Trust Fund Reporting: The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues annual reports on the Trust Fund's status, using terms like "net increase in assets" and "excess income." These technical terms were simplified by politicians and the media into the word "surplus," which was easier for the public to understand but incredibly misleading. It gave the impression that there was more than enough money to cover long-term obligations, when in fact this was not the case.

3. Public Misinterpretation: As the term "surplus" entered the public discourse, Americans were led to believe that the Social Security Trust Fund was flush with money. In reality, these surpluses were temporary and only represented excess revenue in any given year. The money was being loaned to the federal government to fund other expenditures, which created the illusion of solvency while masking long-term funding issues.

4. Media Influence: Over time, the word "surplus" became shorthand in public discourse, often used by the media and politicians alike to describe Social Security's finances. This simplification downplayed the program's future financial challenges, and by the 1990s and 2000s, "surplus" was being used to justify borrowing from the Trust Fund to fund unrelated government spending.

In short, while "surplus" wasn’t part of the legal language, it became part of public discussions as an accessible way to describe the temporary excess in the Social Security Trust Fund. The term was adopted informally by policymakers and the media, ultimately leading to the widespread manipulation of the public's understanding of the system's financial health.

Social Security Is Not a Tax—It’s Our Lifeline

The funds in Social Security don’t belong to Congress—they belong to every American who has worked and contributed to this program. Congress has no right to raid the Trust Fund, yet they have been using these funds to cover shortfalls in the federal budget. This is not their money to borrow, and it’s a betrayal of every American who counts on these funds for their future. Social Security is more than just another line item in the federal budget; it's the bedrock of our financial security after retirement or disability.

If This Were a Private Corporation, People Would Be in Jail

If a private company used retirement funds the way Congress uses Social Security, executives would be in prison. They would be charged with embezzlement, and federal investigations would be launched. But when Congress does it, they hide behind terms like "surplus" to justify their theft. This isn’t just mismanagement—it’s a moral failure. The money they’re borrowing is our money, and the idea that they can dip into it with no oversight is nothing short of criminal.

Congress Has Failed Us—It’s Time for Action

How can anyone in Congress look the American people in the eye and claim that Social Security is safe when they’re siphoning money from it every year? The Trust Fund is on track to run out in the next decade, and yet Congress keeps borrowing as if there’s no tomorrow. Their fiscal irresponsibility is staggering, and it’s time to put a stop to it. They have been using our retirement funds to finance their own agenda, all the while leaving the future of Social Security in jeopardy.

The People Deserve Better

Americans deserve better than a Congress that treats their retirement savings as a slush fund. If elected, I will immediately take steps to embargo the Social Security Trust Fund, preventing Congress from using it to fund anything other than retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. No more borrowing, no more IOUs, no more lies. Protecting Social Security will be my number one priority, and I will fight every day to make sure that your money stays where it belongs—in your hands when you retire.

This isn’t just about Social Security as a program—it’s about the morality of what Congress has done. They are stealing from the American people, and it must end now.