However, technically, neither OASDI nor Medicare taxes go directly into the general fund. Both go into their separate trusts, which, by law, can only be invested in non-negotiable special issue US government securities. So the old canard that the goverment is “raiding” the trust funds is just that.
“Tax income is deposited on a daily basis and is invested in “special-issue” securities. The cash exchanged for the securities goes into the general fund of the Treasury and is indistinguishable from other cash in the general fund.”
So yes, the social security and medicare trust funds get special issue securities that the US government is obligated to make good on, however they are constantly claiming that they won’t be able to make good on these and that they’re going to have to lower benefits or even cancel the program because it’s unsustainable. Why is it unsustainable? Because they are wasting the money on wars, welfare, and bridges to nowhere. What would happen to a private insurance company that squandered its premium money? They could be sued and some of their executives might wind up in handcuffs. Yet when this is done by our government we all just accept it.