Cruz Links Trump Accounts to Social Security Reform

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas stated at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, this week that Trump Accounts, a new federal savings program for children, represent a pathway to converting Social Security into personal investment accounts.

Speaking on a panel Monday, Cruz described the program as a long-sought conservative goal. "Here's the dirty little secret: Trump Accounts are Social Security personal accounts," he said. He recounted past efforts, noting that conservatives have pursued such reforms for 50 years, including a failed push during former President George W. Bush's second term to allow voluntary investment of payroll taxes in stock market index funds. "How did we get it done this time? Because we gave the money to babies, and so the old people didn't get pissed. But you know what? Babies grow up," Cruz added. He projected that regular contributions could grow a child's account to $170,000 by age 18, building support for adults to redirect portions of their payroll taxes into similar accounts instead of the current system.

Trump Accounts, enacted last year under the One Big Beautiful Bill, provide a $1,000 federal seed deposit for children...