Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday pushed back forcefully against a Wall Street Journal report that painted a picture of internal discord and high staff turnover within his department. In an interview on Fox News's "The Ingraham Angle," Bessent dismissed the Journal's reporting, saying, "Look, the Wall Street Journal is a shadow of its former self, and I think it's a disgrace for you to say that they're like TMZ. TMZ does a good job of what they do."
The Journal's story, published Monday, described Bessent's intense management style, citing former and current Treasury officials who said he had repeatedly reprimanded employees—both senior and junior—over issues large and small. The report also alleged that in 2025, Bessent became so frustrated with the organization of his daily briefing book that he threw it against a wall.
Bessent, however, sought to reframe the narrative, suggesting the report relied on a handful of disgruntled voices. "There were two—the disgruntled employees ... versus, like, the 28 who told them that I'm a great employer, and we have some great employees that come to work every day, just like the American people, and they want to work hard," he said.
The rift between Bessent and the Journal is notable given that the Treasury secretary is a key figure in the administration's economic agenda, including auto-enrolling millions of children in investment accounts and navigating rising long-term borrowing costs that have complicated fiscal policy.
This is not the first time Bessent's temper has made headlines. In June, during a Senate hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) asked Bessent about prior reporting that he had threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Bessent replied with a smile, "No sir, I actually said I was going to kick his a--."
The Journal's report comes amid broader generational turnover in Washington and heightened scrutiny of administration officials' management styles. The Treasury Department has seen several key officials depart during Bessent's tenure, though the secretary maintains that his leadership is effective and well-received by the majority of his staff.
The Hill has reached out to the Journal for comment, but the outlet has not yet responded. The dispute underscores the often adversarial relationship between the administration and the press, with Bessent joining a chorus of officials who have criticized mainstream media coverage.
