Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent profile
Public controversy over reported ethics-divestiture delays
Coverage of Bessent's confirmation ethics agreement, an OGE letter that he failed to timely meet divestiture deadlines, watchdog complaints, and his later report that he sold a soybean farm. Bessent said most required sales were done and illiquid assets would follow.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Confirmed as Treasury secretary with divestiture pledge - Reuters reported the Senate confirmed Bessent as Treasury secretary on Jan. 27, 2025. A later Office of Government Ethics letter states he signed an ethics agreement requiring many divestitures by April 28, 2025 to avoid potential conflicts of interest. OGE letter on Bessent ethics agreement non-compliance
- OGE: not timely compliant; watchdogs seek probes - Reuters reported OGE told the Senate Finance chair Bessent had failed to timely comply with parts of his ethics agreement. On Aug. 13, 2025 Campaign Legal Center and Democracy Defenders Fund asked OGE and Treasury's IG to investigate. Bessent said about 96% of required divestitures were done and the rest by year-end. OGE letter on Bessent ethics agreement non-compliance
- Bessent says he divested soybean farm - Reuters reported that on Dec. 7, 2025 Bessent told CBS Face the Nation he had just divested his soybean-farm interests as part of his ethics agreement. The report noted OGE's August letter on late compliance and his pledge to finish remaining sales by year-end. Treasury Secretary Bessent says he has divested his soybean farm