Cortez Masto Pushes Treasury Secretary Bessent to Acknowledge Disastrous Effects of Shortsighted Trump Economic Policies

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Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pushed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to acknowledge the disastrous effects of the Trump Administration's economic policies on Nevada's tourism and travel industry. Secretary Bessent is a top architect of President Trump's economic agenda.

After confronting Secretary Bessent on the declining number of visitors from Canada, the Senator noted that international visitation from various other nations is also declining. She continued, "We are seeing under this administration a U.S. Travel Association travel forecast that [the U.S.] is dealing with now nearly a $70 billion travel trade deficit for 2025. So how do you intend to address the tourism-travel issue that we are losing money in this country because of the policies of this administration?"

Secretary Bessent, deflecting, asked if there were fewer overall visitors to Las Vegas. (There were 3 million fewer visitors in 2025 compared to 2024.)The Senator noted that this is not a problem exclusive to Las Vegas, saying, "I'm talking about nationally. It's not just me, it's Florida. It's other states that are dealing with a decline in tourism. And this is my conversation with you for the last year that it seems this administration keeps ignoring. It is a trillion-dollar industry to this country. And you don't seem to think it is important."

According to the U.S. Travel Association's Travel Forecast, there was a 6.3% projected decrease in international visits to the U.S. in 2025 compared to 2024, resulting in a 3.2% decline in total inbound travel spending. Additionally, the U.S. risks further decreasing international inbound visits based on potential increases in visa fees, extended wait times for visa applications and renewals, and negative sentiment towards the U.S. in key markets.

Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada's tourism economy, fighting for transparency and working to support the state through the current economic chaos. On multiple occasions throughout 2025, the Senator raised concerns and demanded the Trump Administration consider and reverse their policies and make constructive plans for strengthening travel and tourism in the U.S. In September, she hosted a press conference with the Culinary Union to call out Trump Administration policies that are slowing travel and tourism in Nevada. Cortez Masto has also supported legislation to reverse funding cuts to the effective Brand USA travel promotion public-private partnership program. Earlier today, Senator Cortez Masto introduced the USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act to ensure that the United States is working with Canada and Mexico, America's two largest trading partners, to support our travel and tourism industry.

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