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  "id": "scott-bessent",
  "name": "Scott Bessent",
  "kind": "person",
  "url": "https://whatledto.com/who/scott-bessent",
  "description": "",
  "same_as": [],
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    {
      "slug": "student-loan-repayment-overhaul",
      "title": "Student Loans After SAVE: From the Court Block to the Repayment Assistance Plan",
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul",
      "json": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul.json",
      "role": "Treasury Secretary who announced the interagency partnership to take on federal student-loan collection functions.",
      "entries": 1,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-19T04:13:24.467271+00:00"
    },
    {
      "slug": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "title": "Trump Accounts: From the 2025 Tax Law to the July 2026 Launch and the Employer Matches",
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout",
      "json": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout.json",
      "role": "Treasury secretary who led the public rollout and announced enrollment and implementation milestones.",
      "entries": 9,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-14T15:05:02.561257+00:00"
    }
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    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 1816,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n1816",
      "date": "2026-10-01",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Treasury completes automatic enrollment for over 60 million children",
      "summary": "Treasury announced that automatic enrolment for Trump Accounts was complete, saying every eligible child under eighteen with a valid Social Security number now has an account. Secretary Scott Bessent said more than 60 million additional eligible children had an account ready to be claimed; a parent or guardian must claim an account through the official Trump Accounts app before the child can receive the one-time $1,000 seed contribution.",
      "type": "announcement",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Scott Bessent",
        "Trump Accounts"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "us-department-of-the-treasury",
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      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0642/",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-10-01",
          "quote": "With automatic enrollment, over 60 million more eligible children now have an account ready to be claimed."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 739,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n739",
      "date": "2026-08-20",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Proposed investment rules: low-cost, diversified index funds only",
      "summary": "Treasury proposed the rules governing what a Trump Account may hold, keeping to the statute's limit of low-fee US equity index funds and setting expense caps and diversification requirements meant to stop providers from steering children's money into costly products.",
      "type": "regulatory",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Scott Bessent"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "us-department-of-the-treasury",
        "scott-bessent"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0609",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-08-20",
          "quote": "WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced proposed guidance governing eligible investments in Trump Accounts, with a focus on keeping costs low, promoting broad diversification, and helping children’s savings grow over the long term."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-21/pdf/2026-17123.pdf",
          "outlet": "Federal Register",
          "published": "2026-08-21",
          "quote": "“This document contains proposed regulations relating to Trump accounts.”"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 738,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n738",
      "date": "2026-08-11",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Treasury lets employers run pre-tax payroll contributions; more than 50 companies commit",
      "summary": "New guidance allowed employers to set up programs through which employees contribute to their children's accounts pre-tax from their paychecks and employers add matches, up to the $2,500 employer limit. Treasury said more than 50 companies had committed to contributions, from Dell's $1,000 pledge onward.",
      "type": "regulatory",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Scott Bessent",
        "Internal Revenue Service"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "us-department-of-the-treasury",
        "scott-bessent",
        "internal-revenue-service"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0602",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-08-11",
          "quote": "WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced guidance addressing employer-sponsored programs for contributions to Trump Accounts, including arrangements that allow employees to make pre-tax contributions to the Trump Accounts of their dependents."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/11/trump-accounts-employer-match-paycheck-contributions-treasury.html",
          "outlet": "CNBC",
          "published": "2026-08-11",
          "quote": "The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced guidance Tuesday that could allow parents to make pretax contributions to a child's Trump Account directly from their paycheck. More companies have also committed to matching contributions for their employees, the Treasury said."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-11/pdf/2026-16314.pdf",
          "outlet": "Federal Register / Internal Revenue Service",
          "published": "2026-08-11",
          "quote": "The proposed regulations would affect employers maintaining a Trump account contribution program or a dependent care assistance program and employees participating in those programs."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 736,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n736",
      "date": "2026-07-27",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Seven million signed up; Bessent calls it 'the most successful launch in government history'",
      "summary": "Three weeks after launch Treasury's count reached seven million children, and Bessent used prepared remarks to declare the rollout the most successful in government history, while the share of eligible newborns actually enrolled for the $1,000 remained under half by outside estimates.",
      "type": "report",
      "entities": [
        "Scott Bessent",
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury"
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      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/27/bessent-trump-account-signups-reach-7-million.html",
          "outlet": "CNBC",
          "published": "2026-07-27",
          "quote": "Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Trump Accounts \"the most successful launch in government history,\" according to prepared remarks Monday exclusively provided in advance to CNBC. So far, 7 million children have been signed up for the new tax-deferred savings and investment accounts for kids, as per the latest tally."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 734,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n734",
      "date": "2026-07-06",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Trump rings the opening bell from the Oval Office with the NYSE and Nasdaq; Dell shares jump",
      "summary": "The first market open after the launch was marked by a joint NYSE and Nasdaq bell-ringing in the Oval Office with Bessent and CEOs including Michael Dell. Trump's praise of Dell sent the company's shares sharply higher during the session.",
      "type": "other",
      "entities": [
        "Donald Trump",
        "Scott Bessent",
        "New York Stock Exchange",
        "Nasdaq",
        "Michael Dell",
        "Dell Technologies"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "donald-trump",
        "scott-bessent",
        "new-york-stock-exchange",
        "nasdaq",
        "michael-dell",
        "dell-technologies"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0555",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-07-06",
          "quote": "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq joined President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and other influential leaders in the Oval Office to ring the opening bell in celebration of the first market opening after the full launch of Trump Accounts."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/06/trump-opening-bell-ceo-nyse-nasdaq-stocks-accounts.html",
          "outlet": "CNBC",
          "published": "2026-07-06",
          "quote": "President Donald Trump promoted Dell Technologies from the White House after ringing the opening bell of the stock market in the Oval Office. Dell stock soared after the remarks."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 733,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n733",
      "date": "2026-07-04",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Trump Accounts go live on the 250th anniversary, with the $1,000 deposits and family contributions starting",
      "summary": "On July 4, 2026 Treasury launched the full app and the accounts themselves: the $1,000 pilot deposits began flowing to eligible children, families could contribute up to $5,000 a year, and balances were invested in low-cost index funds from providers including State Street, BlackRock and Vanguard, locked until age 18.",
      "type": "launch",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Scott Bessent",
        "Donald Trump"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "us-department-of-the-treasury",
        "scott-bessent",
        "donald-trump"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0554",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-07-04",
          "quote": "The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the official launch of the full Trump Accounts app, giving American families a new way to view, manage, and grow their children’s stake in the nation’s economic future."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/01/trump-accounts-launch-july-4.html",
          "outlet": "CNBC",
          "published": "2026-07-01",
          "quote": "July 4 was the official launch date for Trump Accounts, a new savings and investing vehicle for kids under 18 in the U.S. Once a Trump Account is set up, eligible children will receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the federal government and families can contribute up to $5,000 a year. The funds are generally inaccessible before age 18, when the account converts into a traditional IRA. President Donald Trump speaks about Trump Accounts at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Jan. 28, 2026."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 748,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n748",
      "date": "2026-07-02",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Treasury accepts philanthropic stock contributions for Trump Accounts",
      "summary": "Treasury announced that it would accept large philanthropic contributions of readily tradable public-company stock. The contributions were to support Trump Accounts.",
      "type": "announcement",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Internal Revenue Service",
        "Scott Bessent"
      ],
      "parties": [
        "us-department-of-the-treasury",
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      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0552",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-07-02",
          "quote": "The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that it will accept large philanthropic contributions of readily tradable public company stock to support Trump Accounts."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 731,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n731",
      "date": "2026-05-28",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "The Trump Accounts app arrives in the app stores ahead of the July 4 launch",
      "summary": "Treasury released the Trump Accounts app as the main interface for the program, initially for account activation and viewing, with full contribution features to follow at the July 4 launch. The accounts are held by a Treasury-selected default trustee with investment in index funds.",
      "type": "launch",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Scott Bessent"
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      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0508",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-05-28",
          "quote": "WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Trump Accounts app on app stores available nationwide. The Trump Accounts app will be the main interface for the most historic policy for American families in decades and is available on all major mobile app stores."
        }
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      "id": 523,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/student-loan-repayment-overhaul#n523",
      "date": "2026-03-19",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Treasury takes over defaulted-loan collections under the Federal Student Assistance Partnership",
      "summary": "Secretaries McMahon and Scott Bessent announced an interagency agreement moving operational responsibility for the $1.7 trillion portfolio to Treasury in phases, starting with collections on defaulted loans and support for returning borrowers to repayment, with non-defaulted loans and other FSA functions to follow 'to the extent practicable and permitted by law'. The department said fewer than 40 percent of borrowers were in repayment and almost 25 percent were in default.",
      "type": "announcement",
      "entities": [
        "U.S. Department of Education",
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Linda McMahon",
        "Scott Bessent"
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          "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-and-us-department-of-treasury-announce-historic-federal-student-assistance-partnership",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of Education",
          "published": "2026-03-19",
          "quote": "Under the new interagency agreement, Treasury will assume operational responsibility for collecting on defaulted Federal student loan debt and provide operational support to ED’s efforts to return borrowers to repayment. In subsequent phases, Treasury will work to provide operational support over non-defaulted Federal student loan debt, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, while also seeking opportunities to provide operational support to FSA’s other functions."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0419",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-03-19",
          "quote": "The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) today announced the Federal Student Assistance Partnership to enhance the administration of Federal student aid programs, mitigate the continuing fallout and cost to taxpayers from the Biden Administration’s mismanagement of the Federal student loan portfolio, and facilitate the return of defaulted borrowers to repayment."
        }
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      "timeline": "trump-accounts-rollout",
      "id": 728,
      "url": "https://whatledto.com/events/trump-accounts-rollout#n728",
      "date": "2026-01-28",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "title": "Treasury's Trump Accounts summit; Bessent calls them 'the defining policy of America's 250th anniversary'",
      "summary": "Treasury hosted a summit with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Senator Ted Cruz, Ways and Means chair Jason Smith and celebrity guests ahead of the launch, and Secretary Scott Bessent published an essay tracing the accounts from 'baby bonds' to Invest America and promising to make every citizen a shareholder.",
      "type": "other",
      "entities": [
        "Scott Bessent",
        "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
        "Ted Cruz",
        "Jason Smith"
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      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0372",
          "outlet": "U.S. Department of the Treasury",
          "published": "2026-01-28",
          "quote": "Today, I will explain where Trump Accounts came from, how they work, and why they will render socialist notions moot by making every citizen a shareholder."
        },
        {
          "url": "https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/treasury-hold-summit-trump-accounts-152011231.html",
          "outlet": "The Hill (via Yahoo Finance)",
          "published": "2026-01-25",
          "quote": "The Treasury Department is set to host a Wednesday summit ahead of the launch of \"Trump accounts\" for newborn babies. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, rapper Nicki Minaj, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Cheryl Hines are set to attend."
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