# Bessent pressed on Trump’s $5,000 checks > Lawmakers questioned how the Trump administration would fund proposed dividend checks without adding to federal debt. - Title: Bessent pressed on Trump’s $5,000 checks · Valleynewslive - Summary: Lawmakers questioned how the Trump administration would fund proposed dividend checks without adding to federal debt. Trump’s proposed $5,000 checks still… - Keywords: scott bessent, donald trump, treasury department, house financial services committee, juan vargas, congress, 119th congress, deficit, debt, tariff revenues, rebates, dividend checks - Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/16/sec-bessent-defends-trump-dividends-congress - Published: 2026-09-16T00:11:25.179+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: scott bessent, donald trump, treasury department, house financial services committee, juan vargas, congress, 119th congress, deficit, debt, tariff revenues, rebates, dividend checks ## Bessent faces Congress Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared before the House Financial Services Committee to defend the Trump administration’s economic policies. > defending the Trump administration’s economic policies ## Inflation questions widen The hearing was formally about the international financial system, but lawmakers used it to press Bessent on inflation, the economy, and federal borrowing. > lawmakers also grilled the Treasury Secretary about inflation and the economy ## A costly promise Trump recently said sending Americans a $5,000 check was a good idea. He did not explain how the government would pay for it. > sending Americans a five thousand dollar check is a good idea ## Vargas demands details Rep. Juan Vargas asked whether the payments would raise the deficit or debt. Bessent said Treasury believes there are ways to avoid both. > there are ways to do it without increasing the debt or deficit ## Plan still hidden When Vargas pressed for specifics, Bessent said the work was still underway and he was not ready to discuss the details publicly. > I’m not ready to discuss at present ## Clock is shrinking Trump has tied rebates to tariff revenues before, but Congress has few legislative days left to act on large initiatives this term. > just a handful of legislative days left ## Key takeaway Trump’s proposed $5,000 checks still lack a public funding plan, and Congress would need to authorize the spending.