Fact Check: "The U.S. has a federal minimum wage."
What We Know
The United States does indeed have a federal minimum wage, which is currently set at $7.25 per hour. This rate has been in effect since July 24, 2009, and is applicable to all employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (State Minimum Wage Laws). Additionally, various states have established their own minimum wage laws, which can be higher than the federal rate. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts have minimum wages of $16.50 and $15.00 per hour, respectively (State Minimum Wage Laws).
Moreover, federal contractors are subject to specific minimum wage regulations. For example, Executive Order 14026, issued in April 2021, aimed to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15.00 per hour, although this order was later revoked in March 2025 (Final Rule: Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. has a federal minimum wage is supported by multiple credible sources, including the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees the implementation of the FLSA. The federal minimum wage is a legal requirement for employers who fall under the act, ensuring a baseline level of income for workers across the country (State Minimum Wage Laws).
While the federal minimum wage has remained unchanged for over a decade, there have been discussions and proposals to increase it, such as the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, which seeks to incrementally raise the federal minimum wage to $15.00 by 2025 (Minimum Wage Rate in the US by State (2025)). However, as of now, the established federal rate remains at $7.25.
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high. The U.S. Department of Labor is a government agency responsible for enforcing labor laws, which lends significant credibility to the information regarding minimum wage laws. Additionally, academic and policy research organizations, such as the Economic Policy Institute, provide data and analysis on the implications of wage laws, further supporting the claim (The impact of the Raise the Wage Act of 2025).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "The U.S. has a federal minimum wage" is accurate. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is mandated by law and applies to a wide range of employers. Despite ongoing debates about increasing this wage, the current rate remains in effect, confirming the existence of a federal minimum wage in the United States.
