华盛顿讯——斯科特·贝森特当时怒不可遏。特朗普总统刚刚要求财政部长调查有关明尼苏达州索马里裔社区存在欺诈行为的指控，而贝森特认为其麾下的一位高级副手办事拖沓、效率低下。
WASHINGTON—Scott Bessent was fuming. President Trump had just asked his Treasury secretary to investigate allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community—and Bessent thought one of his top deputies was dragging his feet.
今年1月，在财政部的一次会议上，贝森特当面质问负责反恐与金融情报事务的副部长约翰·赫利。当着众多幕僚的面，贝森特怒声斥责并口出恶言。据知情人士透露，他的叫嚷声极大，连附近的工作人员都能听得一清二楚。
During a January meeting at the Treasury Department, Bessent confronted John Hurley, the agency’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, yelling at him in front of aides and unleashing profanities. Bessent shouted so loudly that staff working nearby could hear him, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
上述人士称，几周后，贝森特与幕僚们商议，打算为这位已获参议院任命的赫利在财政部以外另谋职位。最终赫利离任，出任美国驻经济合作与发展组织大使。此时正值贝森特面临职业生涯中最艰巨挑战之际，财政部高层也出现了一连串人事变动。
Weeks later, Bessent discussed with aides the idea of finding Hurley, who had been confirmed by the Senate for his position, a job outside the department, the people said. Hurley left to be U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It was one of a string of high-level departures in the top ranks of the department at a moment when the Treasury secretary was staring down the biggest challenges of his career.
知情人士指出，贝森特的言行举止正是多位关键官员离职的诱因，有时甚至是决定性因素。
Bessent’s behavior was a factor—and sometimes the most-important one—in the departure of multiple key officials, people familiar with the matter said.
据十余名现任及前任财政部官员透露，自2025年初就任财政部长以来，无论事情大小，贝森特都时常对高级顾问及普通职员厉声训斥。
Since he became Treasury secretary in early 2025, Bessent has dressed down senior advisers and junior staffers alike over issues large and small, according to more than a dozen current and former Treasury officials.