Scott Bessent, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for treasury secretary, opposed raising the federal minimum wage and said it should be a state or regional issue during his confirmation hearing. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., highlighted that over 22 million American workers earn less than $15 an hour, questioning Bessent’s stance on wage increases.
Bessent stated, “I believe the minimum wage is more of a statewide and regional issue,” indicating he does not support federal wage changes. Critics, including Alex Floyd from the Democratic National Committee, argue that Bessent’s views favor the wealthy over working families.