Fact Check: MAGA House Members On Record Wanting To Cut Social Security and Medicare Despite SOTU Protestations

More than 75% of House Republicans belong to Republican Study Committee, which supports cuts to Social Security, Medicare

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During last night’s State of the Union address, President Biden laid bare House Republicans’ proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare in what turned out to be a lively exchange with MAGA members. After stating that “some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset,” House Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled the President, calling him a liar.

In reality, many House Republicans have plainly stated their desire to cut Social Security and Medicare.

For additional commentary from House Accountability War Room senior advisor Zac Petkanas, contact [email protected].

MAGA Members’ Record Supporting Social Security and Medicare Cuts:

The majority of House Republicans support cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The Republican Study Committee, which more than 75% of House Republicans are members of, has proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The Republican Study Committee’s “Blueprint to Save America” would raise the ages of eligibility for both programs, and turn Medicare into a means-tested voucher program.
Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, recently said, “We have no choice but to make hard decisions. Everybody has to look at everything.”
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), a member of the Republican Study Committee, said this year that “everything’s on the table,” including mandatory spending like Medicare. Loudermilk added, “We’re going to have to look at the whole board. The easiest to start with is discretionary, but the main driver of the national debt is the mandatory.”
Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01), a member of the Republican Study Committee and the House Budget Committee, recently said, “Our main focus has got to be on nondiscretionary – it’s got to be on entitlements,” when asked about the need to address Social Security and Medicare.
Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19), a member of the Republican Study Committee and chair of the House Budget Committee, recently said, “Republicans have a list of eligibility reforms” and an increase in the eligibility age for both Social Security and Medicare would be a commonsense change. This year, Arrington said that he does not think cutting Social Security would be popular but, “there are a lot of tough decisions for all of us to make across the board. The rubber will meet the road with the real decisions about bending the curve on spending and reform programs.”
Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a member of the Republican Study Committee and the House Budget Committee, is open to cutting Social Security and Medicare by implementing a means-testing program.
Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-06), a member of the Republican Study Committee, wants to cut entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, saying, “If we really want to talk about the debt and spending, it’s the entitlements programs.”
Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), a member of the Republican Study Committee, said he is “open to review” changes to Social Security and Medicare.
Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, was open to cutting Medicare by raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67, adding, “Anytime we talk about those cuts people always panic. Nobody needs to panic. If we’re going to do something […] people will understand it.”
House Republicans have also called for creating special panels to consider cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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