House Republicans are defending a proposal to raise the retirement age for Social Security against Democratic attacks.

The Republican Study Committee unveiled its budget proposal Wednesday for the next fiscal year, titled "Fiscal Sanity to Save America." In it, GOP lawmakers call for “modest adjustments to the retirement age for future retirees to account for increases in life expectancy.” They did not specify a new age for retirement.

In addition, the plan recommends lowering benefits for the top earners. 

The committee stressed its budget would not cut or delay retirements benefits for any senior in or near retirement.

The RSC, which is chaired by Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, is comprised of about 80% of GOP lawmakers serving in the House, including Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

Its budget proposals are unlikely to become law in the next year but reflect the policy priorities of an influential bloc of the Republican Party.

Hern said Social Security reform is needed to protect the program. 

The Congressional Budget Office projects the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted by 2034. After then, Social Security benefits would be reduced 25% if no action is taken, according to the CBO.

“My reforms are necessary — and it’s the only plan I’ve seen that addresses insolvency,” Hern wrote in a post Thursday night on X, formerly Twitter.

The budget proposal presents two other options for protecting Social Security, both of which the committee rejects. House Republicans said approving transfers from the general fund would not make Social Security more sustainable and would lock in enormous deficit spending. And the panel concluded tax hikes on the wealthy would “fail to make Social Security solvent, and have the effect of eliminating job opportunities in the United States.”

President Joe Biden on Thursady attacked the RSC’s budget proposal as “extreme.”

“The Republican Study Committee budget shows what Republicans value,” he said. “This extreme budget will cut Medicare, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act. It endorses a national abortion ban. The Republican budget will raise housing costs and prescription drugs costs for families. And it will shower giveaways on the wealthy and biggest corporations. Let me be clear: I will stop them.”

But Hern said Biden is refusing to address Social Security insolvency.

“We are headed directly towards an iceberg, but Joe Biden wants to stay the course!” Hern wrote on X.

Earlier this month, Biden released his own $7.3 trillion budget proposal, which seeks to protect Social Security and Medicare. The budget plan says the president would reject any proposals to cut Social Security benefits or privatize the program. It also seeks to extend solvency by increasing taxes on the wealthy.

"The President remains committed to working with the Congress to protect Medicare and Social Security for this and future generations," Biden's budget proposal says.

Alex Floyd, the Democratic National Committee’s rapid response director, sought to tie former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee this year, to the RSC proposal. 

“Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans in Congress are campaigning on an agenda that is so toxic with voters you’d think they were trying to lose the election,” Floyd said in a statement. “The American people want more accessible health care, more freedoms, and greater retirement security – but Donald Trump and his MAGA Minions are running to take all of that away.”

The Trump campaign, however, vowed in a statement Thursday that Trump "will continue to strongly protect Social Security and Medicare in his second term."

"The only candidate who poses a threat to Social Security and Medicare is Joe Biden--whose mass invasion of countless millions of illegal aliens will, if they are allowed to stay, cause Social Security and Medicare to buckle and collapse," said Karoline Leavitt, the campaign's national press secretary. "By unleashing American energy, slashing job-killing regulations, and adopting pro-growth America First tax and trade policies, President Trump will quickly rebuild the greatest economy in history and put Social Security and Medicare on a stronger footing for generations to come."

In an interview with CNBC last week, it initially appeared he suggested making cuts to entitlements, but his campaign later clarified he was only speaking about reducing government waste to save money.

The RSC says its overall plan would balance the federal budget in seven years, reduce spending by $16.6 trillion over 10 years and cut taxes by $5.5 trillion for individuals and families.

“Is it acceptable to have a budget that never balances, no matter how far out in time? … ” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said during a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday. “The American people would say that’s not acceptable.”

The national debt currently stands at $34.6 trillion and has increased by $3.1 trillion over the past year.

The RSC budget proposal also would:

• Convert Medicare to a “premium support model” in which traditional Medicare would complete with private plans. Beneficiaries would receive subsidies to shop for their preferred policies. 
• Reduce regulatory mandates on Affordable Care Act insurance providers.
• Endorse the Life at Conception Act, which would give equal protection under the 14th Amendment to every life starting at fertilization.

NOTE: This article was updated to include the statement from the Trump campaign.