A budget resolution was recently passed by the House of Representatives in an intensely contested vote. It marks a first significant legislative win for Donald Trump, and the Republican Party.
Many Americans are asking themselves this question right now:
Does this budget affect Social Security Benefits?
Budget Resolutions: What are they?
This resolution by Speaker Mike Johnson is the first step to enacting annual federal budget legislation. This resolution outlines the potential reductions to mandatory spending, including essential elements of social safety, such as Social Security benefits and national health insurance, like Medicare and Medicaid. It also includes food assistance and SNAP programs.
This bill includes measures to improve border security including deporting undocumented immigrants, reducing energy regulations and increasing military expenditure.
House approves budget resolution with a 217-215 margin.
Rep. Thomas Massie (a Republican from Kentucky) was the lone member of his own party who voted against the measure.
There were no Democrats who supported this resolution.
Budget Resolution: Key details
The bill instructs the House Energy and Commodities Committee to cut mandatory spending by $880 Billion, while House Agriculture is required to make $230 Billion in cuts.
Crucially, this specific budget resolution does **not** propose direct cuts to Social Security funding or Social Security benefits.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Social Security benefits and Medicare, Medicaid as well as other healthcare programs accounted about 75% for all mandatory spending in 2013.
Although programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs may be significantly affected if this resolution passes through Congress. Social Security Benefits are unlikely to directly affect under the current structure of the resolution.
The President has assured that Social Security will not be affected by his second possible term.
Recently established Department of Government Efficiency has taken internal adjustments within departments and implemented cost-savings measures in agencies such as the Social Security Administration. However, this action did not have a direct impact on beneficiary payments.
The budget resolutions that are used for financial planning should be viewed as non-binding.
The guidelines provide broad advice to the congressional committees on spending adjustments, but they do not specify specific programs that should be increased or decreased.
Budget resolutions are not used to allocate funds for federal programs, or change existing tax laws. Instead they establish overall revenue and spending targets for future budgetary appropriations.
In the days before the House vote on the bill, the measure was met with significant opposition from even some Republican lawmakers, largely due to concerns about potential reductions in Medicaid eligibility and SNAP benefit.
Reactions to Budget Resolution
House Speaker Mike Johnson published the following message on X (formerly Twitter), on Wednesday.
This budget resolution will help to kick-start the implementation of President Trump’s America First Agenda. With nearly every House Republican directly engaged in this deliberative process, this resolution reflects our collective commitment to enacting the President’s full agenda—not just a part of it.”
Thomas Massie shares his views on X.
The GOP budget would extend the tax holidays we have enjoyed for the past five years, but it does not cut the spending enough to reduce the deficit. It increases it by more than $300 billion a year. Comparatively, if tax cuts were to expire. This budget, over a period of 10 years will increase the US debt by $20 trillion.”
It extends our 5-year tax holiday, but it also increases the annual deficit of over $300 Billion because the budget does not reduce spending. The GOP budget extends the 5 year tax holiday, but because it doesn’t cut spending much, it increases the deficit by over $300 billion/year.
This budget, if implemented for 10 years will increase the US debt by $20 trillion.pic.twitter.com/JZ2tDoTHI6— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie)
February 25, 2025
What is next for the Budget Resolution
The Senate’s approval of the budget resolution allows Republicans to initiate a reconciliation process and pass laws without the need for Democratic support.
Uncertainty remains about the timeline by which the Senate may receive the resolution. We are still awaiting a full review of the possible impacts that this resolution could have on mandatory programs. This includes programs like Medicare and Medicaid as well as Supplemental Food Assistance Programs (SNAP).