As Republicans facing down the loss of the House can tell you, the economy is not looking good for many Americans. Wages are not keeping up with inflation, while gas, electricity, and diesel costs are up. Half of Americans are “highly concerned about being able to afford food.” And, in August, the country’s debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time ever.

At times like these — and, really, at all times — one would hope that the person overseeing the economy and advising the president on what to do would be a steady, soothing presence. Assured, inspires confidence — that sort of thing. Instead, we’ve got Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation, is less calming influence than he is terrifying hothead who throws binders and spits in food.

As the story from reporters Brian Schwartz, Josh Dawsey, Philip Wegmann, and Gregory Zuckerman reveals:

. Bessent’s rage has caused numerous staffers to quit

In January, Bessent reportedly “shouted so loudly” at John Hurley, his undersecretary for terrorism and financing, that nearby aides could hear it. That tirade, unsurprisingly, involved the “unleashing [of] profanities” on Hurley, who Bessent believed was “dragging his feet” on investigating alleged fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. Hurley subsequently left Treasury for a post as ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, but was apparently far from an outlier. According to the Journal’s sources, “Bessent has dressed down senior advisers and junior staffers alike over issues large and small,” and his “behavior was a factor — and sometimes the most important one — in the departure of multiple key officials.”

A spokesman for Treasury told the Journal the secretary “approaches the job with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency” and “has high expectations of the United States Treasury’s performance.” The spokesman did not weigh in on Bessent’s exchanges with Treasury staff but did say his successes at the department include tax cuts, regulatory reform, economic agreements, and “the China economic relationship and the program to cut Iran off from the international financial system.”

. Treasury employees........

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