Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano on Friday walked back his remark made earlier in the day that raising the retirement age was among the entitlement reforms being considered by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Fox Business, host Maria Bartiromo asked Bisignano if he\u2019d consider increasing the age for full federal retirement benefits, which currently stands at 67.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everything\u2019s being considered and will be considered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bisignano noted that any change recommended by Social Security trustees \u2014 a group that also includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. \u2014 would need congressional approval.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe White House, which is completely committed to protect and preserve, and then Congress, that\u2019s where the real work will happen. And that\u2019ll take a while, we have plenty of time,\u201d he told Bartiromo.<\/p>\n
The Social Security Administration walked back his comments in an afternoon post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me be clear: President Trump and I will always protect, and never cut, Social Security. That\u2019s why we have made many vital reforms, such as cutting waste, fraud, and abuse from the program, to ensure the solvency of Social Security for future generations of Americans,\u201d the statement from Bisignano said.<\/p>\n \u201cRaising the retirement age is not under consideration,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Projections that Social Security coffers will start running out of money by 2034<\/a> have increased pressure for lawmakers to take actions to prevent insolvency.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no intent to break a system that can be improved,\u201d Bisignano said during a May interview with Bartiromo on Fox News\u2019s \u201cSunday Morning Futures<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat team will get together, along with Senate and Congress, will ensure that this is here for the next 90 years, at least,\u201d he said, referring to the trustees.<\/p>\n A bipartisan group of senators have proposed setting aside $1.5 trillion<\/a> for an investment fund to ensure the flow of future benefits, while others have suggested raising the age for retirement as a way to cut benefits. <\/p>\n Former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O\u2019Malley, appointed by then-President Biden, warned against<\/a> such proposals prior to his exit.<\/p>\n \u201c[Americans] want their government to strengthen [Social Security] and expand it \u2014 not to cut it, contract it or gut its customer service,\u201d O\u2019Malley said at a House Ways and Means Committee in March 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cFor those who would advocate raising the age, I think we have to be mindful of people who do hard work their whole lives, and die sooner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While on the campaign trail, President Trump caught flack for suggesting potential cuts<\/a> to Social Security during a March 2024 interview.<\/p>\n Trump told CNBC there was \u201ca lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.\u201d<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n