A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has revealed that the trust fund responsible for paying retirement and survivor benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) may run out sooner than expected. And critics say legislation championed by Donald Trump — dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — has contributed to a growing shortfall in how these programs are funded.
For roughly 70 million Americans who have spent decades working and paying into the system, Social Security remains the most significant source of retirement income. For many, however, the path to retirement is far from the easy ride it is often imagined to be. Recently, a 71-year-old factory worker in New Jersey died while working at an oil refinery — a stark reminder that many Americans continue working in physically demanding jobs well into their seventies, hoping to one day enjoy the retirement they spent a lifetime earning.
