During a hearing concerning the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to information from his agency, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Rep. Maxine Waters had a confrontation, with the Trump Cabinet member reminding the California Democrat that there is “no such thing as a DOGE employee.”
Waters initiated her questioning by asserting that DOGE chief Elon Musk and his subordinates have been given “unfettered” access to the nation’s financial systems.
“Are you aware of the level, type, or nature of the clearances and security training necessary for individuals to access the information stored in the computers of the Treasury, IRS, or [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]?” Waters inquired.
“Yes, I am, and I believe we would disagree on the interpretation of the term ‘unfettered,’” Bessent replied.
Dissatisfied with his response, Waters continued to press, questioning whether DOGE was permitted to operate freely at the Treasury. “Once again, they were granted read-only access at Treasury. There were two…” Bessent started before being interrupted by Waters.
“Please! You cannot filibuster here. This is not a filibuster playground,” she remarked with a stern look. “What you did was allow these outsiders into our Treasury with access to all of the data, all of the personnel information, and you simply opened the door! Why did you do that?”
Bessent replied to Waters, stating, “There is no such thing” as a DOGE employee and clarified that everyone she mentioned was under his direct oversight.
Waters then moved on, but not before sneering, “I tend to disagree with you based on the information I possess.”
Waters seemed to have forgotten that she had met Bessent during a New Year’s Eve trip to the Bahamas several years ago.
“Is this the first time we are meeting, is that correct?” Waters inquired of Bessent during the House Financial Services Committee hearing.
“No, ma’am. We actually met one New Year’s Eve in the Bahamas,” Bessent replied.
“Why can’t I recall that?” the 86-year-old Waters questioned.
“You were significantly better at the electric slide than I was,” Bessent testified. “And I was with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas yesterday, Prime Minister Davis, who sends his regards.”
“Well, were you with my husband when he served as the ambassador to the Bahamas, appointed by Clinton?” Waters asked Bessent, who chuckled awkwardly.
Last month, Bessent was identified in a recent poll as the most favored member of the president’s Cabinet, boasting a +14 net approval rating. This positions him significantly ahead of the next most favored individuals: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who stands at +8, and the individual tied with him, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as indicated by a poll conducted by J.L. Partners.
However, Bessent is not the sole recipient of favorable polling news in recent days. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has also surged to near-record levels in April, despite several days of backlash from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and mainstream media regarding the president’s bold trade reforms.
According to a distinct poll carried out by J.L. Partners in partnership with the Daily Mail, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters from March 31 to April 3, Trump’s support rating rose even after sweeping tariffs were enacted on numerous countries.
Delving deeper into the statistics, Trump’s favorability rating among voters aged 18 to 29 has seen a remarkable increase of 13 points since March 7. The research suggests that Trump is capitalizing on the substantial support he garnered from this demographic during the November presidential election, when voters aged 18 to 29 shifted 10 points in Trump’s favor after previously backing Joe Biden in 2020.
The president’s support rating has risen by six percentage points among registered Democrats and independents, as per the study. Additionally, the president’s favorability among black voters has surged by 17 points since the previous week’s survey.
