president bush advocated the partial privatization of social security in 2005-2006, but was unsuccessful in achieving any reforms to the program against strong congressional resistance. his proposal would have diverted some of the payroll tax revenues that fund the program into private accounts. critics argued that privatizing social security does nothing to address the long-term funding challenge facing the program. diverting funds to private accounts would reduce available funds to pay current retirees, requiring significant borrowing. an analysis by the center on budget and policy priorities estimates that president bush's 2005 privatization proposal would have added $1 trillion in new federal debt in its first decade of implementation and $3.5 trillion in the decade thereafter.