In budget discussions with Democratic leadership, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy declared that cuts to Social Security and Medicare are “off the table”.
On Sunday, McCarthy made an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan. She asked about McCarthy’s meeting with Joe Biden and about GOP strategies for fiscal responsibility.
Brennan questioned whether Republicans were considering cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits to increase the debt ceiling.
“Let’s take those completely off the table,” McCarthy responded.
Continuing, he said, “If you read our commitment to America, all we talk about is strengthening Medicare and Social Security. I know the president says he doesn’t want to look at it, but we have to make sure we strengthen those.”
Brennan then asked McCarthy whether there were plans to lift the age of retirement for Medicare and Social Security.
“No. I’m talking about Social Security and Medicare, keep that to the side,” McCarthy responded. He confirmed the same later in a discussion of plans for government efficiency.
Donald Trump had earlier told Republicans, through TRUTH Social, “[u]nder no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security.”
Republicans have not specified where cuts should be made after having frozen the 2024 budget at 2022 spending levels.
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