Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent once became so frustrated by the layout of his daily briefing book that he seized the binder and threw it against a wall, according to people familiar with the incident.
In January, Bessent reportedly berated John Hurley, his undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a profanity-filled outburst that unfolded in front of aides and could be heard by staff working nearby.
The confrontation followed an order from President Donald Trump directing Bessent to investigate fraud allegations involving Minnesota’s Somali community. According to The Wall Street Journal, Bessent concluded that Hurley was moving too slowly.
Within weeks, Bessent was discussing with aides how to move the Senate-confirmed official into a position outside the Treasury Department. Hurley soon departed to become the US ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Hurley was among seven Senate-confirmed officials to leave the Treasury Department by the end of August. At the same point in their terms, none of the previous four administrations had lost more than two such officials.
People familiar with the departures told the Journal that Bessent’s behavior contributed to several of them and, in some cases, was the deciding factor.
More than a dozen current and former officials described Bessent as a demanding manager who berates both senior advisers and junior employees. Some aides have started gauging his mood before approaching him, while others said they feel relieved when he is away from the office.
Bessent denied throwing the binder. A Treasury spokesperson avoided questions about how he treats staff, saying only that he “has high expectations” for the department.
Bessent reportedly became so angry over the layout of his daily briefing book that he grabbed the binder and threw it against a wall
Bessent has linked his political future to the war in Iran, privately persuading Trump to replace airstrikes with a broad sanctions campaign
Trump, who speaks with Bessent almost every day, has brought him even closer, joking at an event in Nevada: “I created a monster”
“Scott Bessent is a brilliant and fearless warrior for President Trump and the American people,” Hurley said in a statement. “He and I both believe that those in Minneapolis who stole taxpayer money intended to feed the poor and heal the sick belong in jail.”
The departures come as Trump is relying on Bessent more heavily than ever to stabilize an economy that could hurt Republicans in next month’s midterm elections.
Bessent has also tied his political standing to the conflict in Iran, privately urging Trump to pursue a sweeping sanctions campaign instead of continued airstrikes.
The war, however, has no clear conclusion. Trump has told aides that he expects another bombing campaign after the midterm elections.
At the same time, sharply higher gas prices are keeping inflation elevated, while economic growth has leveled off at roughly 2 percent.
A selloff in the bond market has pushed the yield on 10-year Treasury notes to its highest point in more than two decades, despite a buyback program Bessent introduced to help contain it. The benchmark yield reached 5.35 percent on Wednesday, its highest level since 2002.
The federal deficit has climbed above 6 percent of gross domestic product—twice the 3 percent target Bessent presented to Trump—while the national debt has recently surpassed $40 trillion.
Trump, who speaks with Bessent nearly every day, has continued to draw him closer. At a Nevada event, the president once joked: “I created a monster.”
Bessent’s temper has also surfaced beyond the Treasury Department. Early in Trump’s second term, aides reportedly had to separate him from Elon Musk after the two men exchanged shouts in the West Wing over the Internal Revenue Service.
Soaring gas prices are keeping inflation stubbornly high and economic growth has stalled at around 2 percent
Bessent had to be pulled apart from Elon Musk after a shouting match in the West Wing early in Trump’s second term
At the inaugural dinner of the Executive Branch, an exclusive MAGA club in Georgetown, in September 2025, he threatened to punch Bill Pulte, Trump’s housing chief, over claims Pulte was badmouthing him to the president.
Liberal hecklers from Code Pink confronted Bessent at a Washington restaurant in December, and he turned his fury on the owner for failing to throw them out.
He then spat in his own food before walking out, according to the owner and a diner sitting nearby.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers hit back, calling the professionalism and accountability Bessent has brought to Treasury ‘one of the great accomplishments of this administration.’
Even Steve Bannon, who has known him for nearly a decade and counts himself a fan, admits Bessent has ‘a tripwire and he’s got a temper.’
