A heated exchange unfolded during a recent hearing as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faced sharp questioning from California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters over the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to sensitive Treasury Department information.
Waters launched her inquiry by accusing DOGE chief Elon Musk and his team of being granted “unfettered” access to the nation’s financial systems, raising serious security concerns.
“Do you know the level, type, or nature of the clearances and security training required for individuals accessing data within the Treasury, IRS, or Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?” Waters demanded.
Bessent countered calmly, “Yes, I do. But I believe we’d disagree on what ‘unfettered’ actually means.”
Not satisfied, Waters pressed harder, questioning whether DOGE was allowed to roam freely within Treasury systems.
Bessent began, “They were granted read-only access at Treasury. There were two—”
Waters abruptly cut him off with a sharp glare: “Please! This isn’t the filibuster playground. You essentially let strangers into our Treasury, with access to all data and personnel information. Why did you open the door?”
In response, Bessent shot back firmly, “There’s no such thing as a DOGE employee. Every individual you’re referring to is under my direct supervision.”
Despite Bessent’s defense, Waters remained unconvinced, sneering, “I tend to disagree with you based on the information I have.”
The fiery back-and-forth left no doubt that questions about DOGE’s access to Treasury data will continue to spark controversy.
During the tense House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Maxine Waters appeared to forget a past encounter with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — a moment that added an unexpected twist to the proceedings.
“This is the first time we’ve met, is that correct?” Waters asked.
Bessent quickly corrected her: “No, ma’am. We actually met one New Year’s Eve in the Bahamas.”
Perplexed, Waters replied, “Why don’t I remember that?”
With a hint of humor, Bessent quipped, “You were much better at the electric slide than I was.” He added with a smile, “And I was with the prime minister of the Bahamas yesterday, Prime Minister Davis, who sends his regards.”
Trying to recall, Waters then asked, “Well, were you with my husband when he was ambassador to the Bahamas, appointed by Clinton?”
Bessent chuckled awkwardly but didn’t answer directly — a light-hearted moment amid the serious questioning that briefly eased the tension in the room.
Last month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent soared to the top of the president’s Cabinet popularity rankings, boasting a +14 net approval rating — far outpacing his closest rivals. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard both trailed at +8, according to a recent poll by J.L. Partners.
But Bessent isn’t the only one enjoying a surge in public support. Despite intense criticism from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and mainstream media over the administration’s sweeping trade policies, President Donald Trump’s approval ratings climbed to near-record highs in April.
A separate J.L. Partners poll, conducted alongside the Daily Mail and surveying 1,000 registered voters from March 31 to April 3, revealed that Trump’s favorability increased even after imposing wide-ranging tariffs on numerous countries.
Notably, Trump’s popularity among younger voters aged 18 to 29 jumped by an impressive 13 points since March 7. This marks a continuation of a trend from the November presidential election, where this age group swung 10 points toward Trump after previously favoring Joe Biden in 2020.
The poll also highlighted gains across the political spectrum, with Trump’s approval rising six points among registered Democrats and independents. Perhaps most strikingly, his favorability among Black voters surged by 17 points since the previous week’s survey.