Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for opposing a recent bill, characterizing Jeffries as an "arsonist" and rejecting his attempts to discredit the legislation. Bessent argued that the Democratic Party, which held the majority in Congress previously, was responsible for excessive budget deficits and wasteful spending, leaving the current administration with a financial mess to manage. He emphasized that the United States does not face a tax collection issue but rather a spending problem that the current administration, under President Donald Trump along with Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune, is working to control. Bessent also highlighted efforts to accelerate economic growth, stating that improving the growth trajectory is key to addressing deficit challenges. He questioned the absence of deficit hawks during the Biden administration's tenure, which he said contributed to the worsening fiscal situation.