The program gave birth to the idea of retirement and covers nearly all Americans — but now it faces major financial and customer service challenges.

Confidence in Social Security has also waned in recent years. A survey conducted by the nonpartisan organization AARP, which advocates for older Americans, found that confidence in the future of the Social Security system had declined from 43 percent in 2020 to 36 percent in 2025.

In the midst of the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935, President Donald Trump reiterated his campaign promise to protect the program and eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors.