GOP Senator Hawley Proposes $15 Federal Minimum Wage Increase Starting 2026

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican and ally of President Trump, has introduced bipartisan legislation called the 'Higher Wages for American Workers Act' to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting in 2026, with subsequent increases to adjust for inflation. The bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Peter Welch, marks a notable shift for Hawley, reflecting a Trump-era strategy to attract working-class voters to the Republican Party. President Trump has expressed lukewarm support for raising the minimum wage but generally favors state-level decisions over federal mandates. Opposing the increase, Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota questioned the need for a federal minimum wage at all, arguing that market forces should determine wages and warning that a $15 wage could reduce entry-level job opportunities. The federal minimum wage has remained $7.25 since 2009, despite rising living costs, and while some states have implemented higher wages, a federal increase remains contentious within the Republican Party. Hawley’s push for higher wages comes amid broader debates on economic fairness and labor rights, as well as tensions within Republican ranks over the best approach to support working-class Americans.