Tax AI to pay for Social Security revenue shortfall

I am writing as a constituent to urge prompt, serious action to address the funding shortfall identified in the most recent Social Security Trustees Report. As you know, the report projects that the program’s trust funds will face depletion in roughly six years, at which point benefits would be automatically reduced. That outcome would be devastating for millions of Americans who rely on Social Security for basic financial security. This challenge is significant, but it is also manageable—especially if Congress acts soon. Even modest, phased-in changes can substantially improve long-term solvency while giving workers and businesses time to adjust. I encourage you to consider strengthening the program’s revenue base in two practical ways. First, earnings above the current taxable maximum of $176,400 should be subject to the Social Security payroll tax. This adjustment would better reflect today’s income distribution and ensure that higher earners contribute more fairly to the system’s sustainability. Second, as artificial intelligence increasingly displaces workers, Congress should require companies that benefit from labor-replacing AI to contribute to Social Security at a level comparable to the payroll taxes that would have been paid both by workers displaced by AI, as well as by new workers not hired in, for example, a corporate expansion, because of the company's use of AI. In addition, companies that provide AI software as a service should be required to pay a portion of their earnings into the Social Security Trust Fund. This would help maintain the program’s funding base in an evolving economy while supporting the workers and communities most affected by technological change. There is strong historical precedent for bipartisan leadership on this issue. In 1983, Republicans and Democrats came together to enact reforms that stabilized Social Security for decades. That effort required political courage, compromise, and a shared commitment to the program’s future. Today’s situation calls for the same level of seriousness and cooperation. Social Security is one of the most successful and important programs in our nation’s history. With thoughtful, timely action, Congress can preserve and strengthen it for current and future generations. I urge you to prioritize this issue and work across the aisle to secure Social Security’s long-term stability.