US treasury secretary Bessent suggests fired federal workers could work factory jobs created by tariffs
In a recent interview, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that fired federal workers might be able to fill new factory jobs created by President Trump’s tariff policies. Bessent argued that trimming the federal workforce would lead to new opportunities for these workers to transition into manufacturing jobs. However, this approach seems more about political expedience than any real understanding of the struggles of everyday Americans.
Bessent explained, “So what we are doing: on one side, the president is reordering trade. On the other side, we are shedding excess labor in the federal government and bringing down federal borrowings. And then on the other side, that will give us the labor we need for the new manufacturing.” While it may sound appealing in theory, the reality is much more complex. The U.S. job market is already oversaturated, with too few openings and many workers struggling to find roles that match their previous experience, especially those displaced from government jobs.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been relentlessly cutting jobs, with hundreds of thousands laid off across various agencies. In March, U.S.-based employers announced 275,240 job cuts, a massive 60% increase from February. This has left many workers, including those fired by DOGE, in a tough spot. According to Bessent, “the federal government layoffs ‘will give us’ an additional labor force, rather than ‘we will have the labor we need for new manufacturing.’” This language shows the fundamental problem: relying on massive layoffs to fuel job creation is a short-term fix that doesn’t address the long-term needs of American workers.
Bessent, speaking to Tucker Carlson, emphasized the supposed benefits of tariff revenues, saying, “Right now we’re in this strange ‘betwixt and between,’ because we’re going to take in substantial tariff revenue. And what DOGE is doing is substantially cutting expenses. But we’re not getting credit for it right now.” However, experts argue that this strategy does little to help working-class families. Economist Allison Shrivastava pointed out, “Ultimately, the overall job market’s ability to absorb cuts will depend largely on the types of jobs workers are looking for and a rebound in employer hiring and confidence.”
The administration’s push for tariffs has also been heavily criticized by those who argue that tariffs don’t generate the promised economic benefits. Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, a professor of economics at Brown University, criticized the policy, saying, “First and foremost, every reason the administration gives to justify tariffs is wrong: tariffs do not decrease US overall trade deficit, tariffs do not bring jobs back, and tariffs do not mean foreigners take advantage of us taking our wealth.”
Bessent’s remarks come at a time when the labor market is already strained, and the reality of a transition into factory jobs for laid-off federal workers seems far-fetched. Instead of focusing on tariffs, the administration should consider policies that truly support working families, provide reliable job opportunities, and focus on sustainable economic growth.
