Gallup polling suggests Republicans have shifted their views on Social Security and Medicare, two programs that, for years, most Americans across party lines opposed changing in ways that would reduce benefits.
This year’s Gallup poll found that 56% of Republicans support major changes to Social Security and Medicare to reduce federal spending, compared with 18% of Democrats. Even so, President Donald Trump has repeatedly said publicly that he will not cut Social Security or Medicare benefits, pledging to “protect” both programs.
Democrats and other critics argue that treating reforms primarily as spending cuts risks pushing costs onto retirees and near-retirees who depend on guaranteed benefits.
Growing divide
Analysts say the split mirrors broader partisan differences over government spending and deficit reduction. In the poll, nearly half of respondents said Congress should address the federal deficit mainly through spending cuts, while 17% favored relying primarily on tax increases. Another 27% supported a mix of both approaches.
About 63% of Americans—driven mainly by Democrats and independents—support raising taxes on high earners, while Republicans more often favor spending cuts as the main solution.
Social Security provides monthly benefits to more than 70 million people and is widely credited with keeping a large share of older Americans out of poverty. Analysts also warn that without action, benefits could be reduced in the next decade as the program’s finances tighten—an outcome that would mean smaller checks for recipients.
Some analysts argue that lifting the payroll tax income cap could address a significant portion of Social Security’s projected shortfall. Others contend that any durable fix will likely require higher taxes on top earners alongside other changes.
Supporters of Republican-led reforms say increased openness to major changes reflects fiscal reality rather than hostility toward seniors.
Path forward
9i Capital Group Chief Executive Officer Kevin Thompson argued that certain policy changes work against the long-term stability of the system, pointing to measures such as raising the deductible for seniors over 65 and removing the GPO/WEP (Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision).
“The only sustainable path forward is to raise the cap, increase taxes on higher-income earners, and remove the structural bottlenecks within our medical system that continue to drive prices higher,” Thompson said.
He also said Republicans have long been told that waste, fraud, and abuse are embedded in the system—and that a broad overhaul could eliminate inefficiencies, producing savings that could help offset future funding shortfalls.
Critics counter that Republican support for “major changes,” as captured by Gallup, does not automatically mean support for benefit cuts and may instead reflect broader concern about federal spending.
