The next Senate class will decide Social Security's fate. Can they meet halfway to save it?

A looming financial crisis threatens Social Security’s future, with the program expected to exhaust its trust funds by 2032—unless Congress intervenes. Without action, beneficiaries could face automatic benefit cuts of nearly a quarter, affecting millions of retirees. Lawmakers from both parties are reportedly exploring potential solutions, but the 2027 Senate class will face unprecedented pressure to address the issue. The stakes are high as policymakers weigh reforms amid growing urgency over the program’s sustainability.

The 2027 Senate class will be the first delegation in more than four decades forced to address Social Security’s potential insolvency. The federal program is poised to run out of funds by 2032, triggering a 22-percent cut in benefits for tens of millions of Americans unless lawmakers act. Some bipartisan consensus has emerged among Senate...