‘We Have to Suck It up’: Ken Paxton Privately Suggests Cutting Federal Benefit Programs to Reduce National Deficit

Latest leak catches Ken Paxton vowing to slash benefits — while chuckling over tax cuts

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event.“There’s no doubt we ...

Ken Paxton suggests cutting federal benefit programs in 4th leaked audio

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event.“There’s no doubt we have to cut some of the mandatory spending,” Paxton said in the recording, a snippet of a private discussion on Capitol Hill that has been leaked in …

‘We have to suck it up’: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce deficit

In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

‘We have to suck it up’: Ken Paxton privately suggests cutting federal benefit programs to reduce national deficit

By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune October 8, 2026 Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event. “There’s no doubt…

Paxton suggests cutting federal benefits in newest leaked audio

In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.