Congressional oversight of the social security program during the Reagan Administration reflected a combination of formal and less formal approaches to the review, investigation, and evaluation of the administration of a program. Initially, the routine work of the Senate Finance Committee and the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Ways and Means Committee identified a potential problem with the future solvency of the social security program trust funds (Aberbach, 1990, p. 107). This identification of a potential problem led to investigative work by the committees and by the Congressional Accounting Office.

While Congressional investigative and assessment work was in progress, the new Reagan Administration assumed executive responsibilities in Washington. The agenda of new administration, as a representative of the New Right in American politics, included the elimination of the social security program if possible or a drastic revision of the program to emasculate it if elimination was proved not to be politically feasible (Dobelstein and Johnson, 1985, pp. 135-137). As a consequence, the remedies proposed by the

Social security: Much discussed fiscal topic. (1985). Congressional quarterly almanac 99th Congress 1st Session . . . . 1985. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 465.

Reagan Administration to deal with funding problems of the social security program were draconian in character (Myles, 1981, pp. 22-31).

Social Security Administration. (1989, June). Actuarial status of the OASI and DI trust funds. Social Security Bulletin, 52(6), 2-7.

The Reagan Administration made a lot of noise about controlling federal spending, but each budget submitted by the Administration (not the budgets actually enacted into law) provided for increased spending. The only reason the budgets submitted by the Administration did not project significant increases in the budget deficit was because the revenue side was grossly overstated (some charge knowingly so by the Reagan Administration).

Jones, Roy S., Jr., & Barrett, Michael F., Jr. (1992, Summer). Congressional oversight: In the crosshairs and at a crossroads. Public Manager, 21(2), 24-28.