Because lawmakers have spent too much year after year, America’s gross national debt now exceeds $40 trillion. The largest drivers of spending include Social Security and major health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid, whose long-term financial challenges require congressional attention.
When the federal government borrows nearly $2 trillion each year to meet its commitments, every federal program needs scrutiny for savings. This includes the generous lifetime benefits provided to a very exclusive, wealthy class of Americans: former presi …