Murray warns Social Security could be 'cut to ribbons' as voters cast ballots

Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, is warning that Social Security could be "cut to ribbons" depending on which party controls Congress after Tuesday's midterm elections ¹. She made the case on the social platform X on Sunday ¹.

Murray wrote that Republicans want to cut benefits and that Democrats want billionaires to pay their fair share. She called this the Social Security election ¹.

On tapeSenator Patty Murray · Nov 2

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We do not want to see Social Security turn to dust or get cut to ribbons. We want to strengthen this program so we can keep our word to people who spent their lives paying into it.

The financing gap is real

The warning lands on a real problem. The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report says the retirement and survivors trust fund, known as OASI, can pay full scheduled benefits only until 2032 ¹. A Congressional Research Service summary puts the depletion date in the fourth quarter of 2032 ².

After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover about 78 percent of scheduled retirement and survivor benefits, Newsweek reported. That is an automatic cut of about 22 percent ¹.

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For the average retired worker, who gets about $2,088 a month, that would be roughly $459 less each month ¹. For the retirement and disability funds combined, the research service says the date is the third quarter of 2034. At that point tax revenue would cover about 83 percent of scheduled benefits ².

Social Security would not disappear when the reserves run out. Payroll taxes would keep flowing in, but not enough to pay every promised dollar ¹.

What each side says

Murray argues the gap should be closed by bringing in more money, especially from wealthy Americans, instead of cutting benefits ¹. At a Senate Budget Committee hearing in March, she said she found it unfair that the richest have the smallest effective tax rate ¹.

When the richest people in the country have the smallest effective tax rate—that does not seem to me like a very fair system

Republicans have generally said publicly that they want to protect Social Security benefits ¹. Democrats point to comments from GOP leaders about the need to reform mandatory spending programs, a category that includes Social Security ¹.

Kevin Thompson, founder of 9i Capital Group, called Murray's remarks hyperbole but said she "may have a point." He said President Trump has said the country cannot afford daycare, Medicare and Social Security ¹. Newsweek did not quote Trump directly, so that remark is Thompson's account.

What happens next

Lawmakers have several options. They could raise the payroll tax rate, raise the amount of wages subject to the tax, cut scheduled benefits, or combine revenue increases with benefit changes ¹. Newsweek reported that the 22 percent cut would go into effect unless lawmakers reach a bipartisan solution, while experts it spoke with also said the odds of beneficiaries seeing cuts are low ¹.

Alex Beene, a University of Tennessee at Martin instructor, said the odds of beneficiaries seeing cuts are "incredibly low." He pointed out that Social Security recipients are among the most reliable voters ¹.

That matters because the next several Congresses face rising pressure to act before 2032 ¹. Each year without a deal leaves fewer and harder choices.

The Record

1. Mar 1, 2026At a Senate Budget Committee hearing, Murray said the wealthiest Americans should contribute more to Social Security ¹.
2. Jun 25, 2026A Congressional Research Service summary of the 2026 Trustees Report put retirement trust fund depletion in the fourth quarter of 2032 ².
3. Nov 1, 2026Murray wrote on X that Social Security could be 'cut to ribbons' and called it the Social Security election ¹.

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<h2>Murray warns Social Security could be &#39;cut to ribbons&#39; as voters cast ballots</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Kitchen-Table Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/murray-warns-social-security-could-be-cut-to-ribbons-as-voters-cast-ballots">The GOP Files</a> on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.</em></p> <p>Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, is warning that Social Security could be &quot;cut to ribbons&quot; depending on which party controls Congress after Tuesday&#39;s midterm elections . She made the case on the social platform X on Sunday .</p> <p>Murray wrote that Republicans want to cut benefits and that Democrats want billionaires to pay their fair share. She called this the Social Security election .</p> <blockquote><p>We do not want to see Social Security turn to dust or get cut to ribbons. We want to strengthen this program so we can keep our word to people who spent their lives paying into it.</p><p>&mdash; Patty Murray, U.S. Senator, Democrat-Washington</p></blockquote> <h2>The financing gap is real</h2> <p>The warning lands on a real problem. The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report says the retirement and survivors trust fund, known as OASI, can pay full scheduled benefits only until 2032 . A Congressional Research Service summary puts the depletion date in the fourth quarter of 2032 .</p> <p>After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover about 78 percent of scheduled retirement and survivor benefits, Newsweek reported. That is an automatic cut of about 22 percent .</p> <p>For the average retired worker, who gets about $2,088 a month, that would be roughly $459 less each month . For the retirement and disability funds combined, the research service says the date is the third quarter of 2034. At that point tax revenue would cover about 83 percent of scheduled benefits .</p> <p>Social Security would not disappear when the reserves run out. Payroll taxes would keep flowing in, but not enough to pay every promised dollar .</p> <h2>What each side says</h2> <p>Murray argues the gap should be closed by bringing in more money, especially from wealthy Americans, instead of cutting benefits . At a Senate Budget Committee hearing in March, she said she found it unfair that the richest have the smallest effective tax rate .</p> <blockquote><p>When the richest people in the country have the smallest effective tax rate—that does not seem to me like a very fair system</p><p>&mdash; Patty Murray, U.S. Senator, Democrat-Washington</p></blockquote> <p>Republicans have generally said publicly that they want to protect Social Security benefits . Democrats point to comments from GOP leaders about the need to reform mandatory spending programs, a category that includes Social Security .</p> <p>Kevin Thompson, founder of 9i Capital Group, called Murray&#39;s remarks hyperbole but said she &quot;may have a point.&quot; He said President Trump has said the country cannot afford daycare, Medicare and Social Security . Newsweek did not quote Trump directly, so that remark is Thompson&#39;s account.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Lawmakers have several options. They could raise the payroll tax rate, raise the amount of wages subject to the tax, cut scheduled benefits, or combine revenue increases with benefit changes . Newsweek reported that the 22 percent cut would go into effect unless lawmakers reach a bipartisan solution, while experts it spoke with also said the odds of beneficiaries seeing cuts are low .</p> <p>Alex Beene, a University of Tennessee at Martin instructor, said the odds of beneficiaries seeing cuts are &quot;incredibly low.&quot; He pointed out that Social Security recipients are among the most reliable voters .</p> <p>That matters because the next several Congresses face rising pressure to act before 2032 . Each year without a deal leaves fewer and harder choices.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/murray-warns-social-security-could-be-cut-to-ribbons-as-voters-cast-ballots">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/murray-warns-social-security-could-be-cut-to-ribbons-as-voters-cast-ballots.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Democrat Says Social Security Could Get 'Cut to Ribbons' if GOP Wins” (2026-11-03). newsweek.com/democrat-says-social-security-could-get-cut-to-
2. Congressional Research Service via EveryCRSReport, “Social Security: Selected Findings of the 2026 Annual Report” (2026-06-25). everycrsreport.com/reports/IF13256.html

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