During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Scott Bessent, President Trump's nominee for Treasury Secretary, expressed his stance against increasing the federal minimum wage. When questioned by Senator Bernie Sanders, who advocates for raising the minimum wage to a living wage, Bessent emphasized that he views the minimum wage as a state and regional issue rather than a federal matter.
Senator Sanders, a proponent of raising the federal minimum wage, highlighted the current rate of $7.25 per hour and inquired about Bessent's position on changing it. Bessent firmly stated that he does not support altering the federal minimum wage.
In contrast, Senator Sanders has been a vocal advocate for increasing the federal minimum wage and introduced legislation in 2023 aimed at raising it to $17 by 2028. Notably, Vermont, Sanders' home state, recently raised its minimum wage from $13.67 to $14.01 per hour, underscoring the ongoing debate surrounding wage policies at both the state and federal levels.
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009, prompting discussions among policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders about the necessity of adjusting it to address income inequality and support low-wage workers.
