WATCH: Pressley Blasts Treasury Secretary Over Trump’s Affordability Crisis, Skyrocketing Costs for Families

September 15, 2026 WATCH: Pressley Blasts Treasury Secretary Over Trump’s Affordability Crisis, Skyrocketing Costs for Families Pressley Also Presses Bessent Over Black Unemployment Crisis and Tariff Exemption for Baby Products “You go on television and you say that Trump’s economic agenda is a great comeback, and that makes me question not only your integrity, but if you’re operating in the same reality as the people whom you are accountable to.” “Families in my district and across this country are struggling to afford a home, buy food, raise their kids, pay these high utility bills, and they deserve a government that’s going to make their life easier, not harder.” Video (YouTube) WASHINGTON – Today, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) sharply questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the affordability crisis under the Trump Administration and how Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs, war in Iran, and irresponsible fiscal policies have led to skyrocketing costs for workers and families in the Massachusetts 7th and beyond. Congresswoman Pressley also pressed Secretary Bessent about his commitments to address the crisis of Black unemployment and push for a tariff exemption for essential baby products. The full transcript of the Congresswoman’s exchange with Secretary Bessent is below and the video is available here . Transcript: Pressley Blasts Treasury Secretary Over Trump’s Affordability Crisis, Skyrocketing Costs for Families House Financial Services Committee September 15, 2026 REP . PRESSLEY : Mr. Secretary, I want to continue where we left off the last time you testified before this committee. As you know, hundreds of thousands of Black workers have been pushed out of the workforce, and unemployment rates over the last year haven’t been this high since the COVID-19 pandemic. To put it simply, more people are out of work now than they were before Trump took office in 2025. Secretary Bessent, in February, you testified under oath that you would analyze Black unemployment data and report back on its impacts to the financial stability of the U.S. economy. Have you begun working on this report yet? SEC . BESSENT : I will check with my staff. I have not seen it. REP . PRESSLEY : Can you make a commitment to honor what you said on the record under oath? SEC . BESSENT : Of course. REP . PRESSLEY : Okay. And when can I expect that report? SEC . BESSENT : I will check with my staff, and they will communicate to you a date certain. REP . PRESSLEY : Secretary Bessent, let me be frank here. Something that is having this sort of impact. At one point, there were 300,000 Black women who have been pushed out of the workforce, most of them from the federal government, devastating many black families, in that 80% of those families, Black women, are the primary breadwinner. So this is something of great consequence. I have to also say, again being frank, that you’re on thin ice with me because you sat here in the midst of the tariffs conversation, and I asked for you to be a partner in pushing for an exemption of baby products, and you told me that I had a partner in you in that advocacy, and nothing came of that. So twice you’ve come before this committee made a commitment under oath, and you’ve not followed up. SEC . BESSENT : I would say watch this space after President Xi’s visit. REP . PRESSLEY : Okay, I don’t know what that means, but people are struggling. You’ve made commitments. You haven’t kept any of them, and it’s outrageous. Moving on, I have a lot of ground to cover, and I have too much of my time. [cross talk] Secretary Bessent, when—reclaiming my time. When Donald Trump launched the unnecessary and unconstitutional war with Iran, how long did he say that would last? SEC . BESSENT : I don’t recall. REP . PRESSLEY : I’ll jog your memory. Four to five weeks. It’s been six months. So he lied, and we’re all paying the cost. Since the war started, gas prices are up 52 percent. Yes or no? Are you aware of that? SEC . BESSENT : Gas prices— REP . PRESSLEY : Gas prices are up 52 percent since the war started. Are you aware of this issue? Yes or no? SEC . BESSENT : From what to what? I think that’s not a good number. REP . PRESSLEY : Okay, I’m going to take that as a yes. You’re playing like you don’t know, but you know. Okay, Secretary Bessent. Working people—reclaiming my time. Secretary Bessent, working people are paying more for utilities now than they were five years ago. More than 20% more. Are you aware of that? SEC . BESSENT : I am aware of that. REP . PRESSLEY : Okay, moving on. Secretary Bessent, people are also paying over three times more on health insurance. Have you heard about this issue? Yes or no? SEC . BESSENT : I am aware that— REP . PRESSLEY : Yes or no? Are you aware? SEC . BESSENT : You can ask— REP . PRESSLEY : Stop filibustering. And stop acting like you don’t know what the facts are. Moving on. Secretary Bessent, the Joint Economic Committee found that tariffs cost families on average $1,700. Have you heard about this issue? SEC . BESSENT : I have not. REP . PRESSLEY : You heard about this issue. Your boss, Donald Trump, said that he was going to give people, or he would reimburse them. He would send them a check for the cost of these tariffs, and he hasn’t done that because he lies on everything. SEC . BESSENT : Well, the Democratic— REP . PRESSLEY : Moving on. You know about these issues, and I’m questioning your integrity. You know about this. [cross talk] CHAIR : Ms.  Pressley is recognized. Ms. Pressley is recognized. REP. PRESSLEY : Thank you. Mr. Secretary, you know about these issues. The American people are suffering. You know better. You go on television and you say that Trump’s economic agenda is a great comeback, and that makes me question not only your integrity, but if you’re operating in the same reality as the people whom you are accountable to. And you are enabling him, and it’s shameful. Secretary Bessent, the families in my district and across this country are struggling to afford a home, buy food, raise their kids, pay these high utility bills, and they deserve a government that’s going to make their life easier, not harder. But that’s exactly what is happening on your watch. As the Secretary of Treasury, you’re responsible for overseeing all of our economy. You don’t have anyone else to blame but yourself and Donald Trump. And it is shameful that you’re being an accessory to this and being complicit to this. You are a smart man, and you know better. I yield back. — Last year, following Rep. Pressley’s questioning, Secretary Bessent conceded the Treasury Department would consider exempting essential baby care products from tariffs, which was later reaffirmed by President Trump. Rep. Pressley has repeatedly sounded the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States, called on the Federal Reserve to take action, and convened impacted women and economists to renew those calls. The Federal Reserve responded to the Congresswoman’s letter in October, and Rep. Pressley pushed for further action demanding a briefing for members of the Congressional Black Caucus on how the Fed is responding to this crisis. ### Back to News Next Article Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email