Today marks the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, signed into law on August 14, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt amid the economic devastation of the Great Depression. Formally known as Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, the act established the foundation for America’s first permanent national old-age pension system. It was part of Roosevelt’s broader New Deal—a series of reforms designed to bring relief and economic security to Americans struck by unemployment, poverty, and uncertainty following the stock market collapse of 1929. On this anniversary, as Social Security continues to deliver on its promise to millions, securing its future remains a defining test for American policymakers and society alike.