Progressive push for $25 federal minimum wage mandate sparks economic warnings
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The federal government is facing renewed pressure to mandate a $25-per-hour minimum wage nationwide as the “affordability crisis” continues to squeeze American families.
“I think there’s a growing outcry of frustration, anger and disgust. People feel like they have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet,” One Fair Wage President Saru Jayaraman told Fox News Digital. “They never get to see their loved ones. They don’t even have a life. This is a bipartisan issue among voters.”
One Fair Wage is part of a national coalition of more than 100 organizations, including teachers unions and progressive lawmakers, currently pushing for a $25 federal minimum wage floor. The current federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009.
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Rep. Analilia Mejia, D-N.J., introduced the Living Wage for All Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour.
One of the primary sponsors of the campaign was Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.), who introduced the Living Wage for All Act last week. Mejia, a progressive backed by liberal firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Y), is known for touting far-left views like Medicare for All, a wealth tax, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mejia, a founding member of the Living Wage for All coalition, is using the bill as his first major legislative push since winning a special election for New Jersey’s 11th District by a landslide last month.
One Fair Wage told Fox News Digital that voters across the political spectrum are galvanized by the issue.
“We’re seeing a lot of MAGA voters excited about the $25 minimum wage,” Jayaraman said. “We’re seeing people from all walks of life—and frankly the vast majority have no political affiliation—saying, ‘I don’t care about Republicans, Democrats or Independents; what I care about is, am I going to be able to feed my family and who’s going to provide that for me?'”
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High-profile Democrats like Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on affordability before winning their elections. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
This pressure emerged as voters prioritized the cost of living during the 2024 and 2025 election cycles. Jayaraman noted that Donald Trump’s victory in 2024 was fueled by promises to make life more affordable, but saw the rise of progressives like Zohran Mamdani, who won the New York City mayoral race in 2025 on an affordable platform.
The movement is already experiencing localized success. In March, One Fair Wage, in partnership with the United Auto Workers (UAW), launched a ballot initiative in Oakland, California, to raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour. Under this proposal, large businesses with more than 100 employees and annual revenues of over $1 billion would be required to reach the $30 limit by 2030 if adopted.
Similar “30 by 30” mandates have been proposed or signed by Mayor Karen Bass in Los Angeles and are currently being considered by the New York City Council.
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While supporters argue that wage increases are a necessity, critics warn of serious economic consequences. The Legislature has recently addressed the affordability crisis in different ways, passing the Housing for the 21st Century Act on a rare 390-9 bipartisan vote last February to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Rebekah Paxton, research director at the conservative Employment Policy Institute (EPI), warned that the $25 federal mandate could be a “job killer.”
“A federal mandate of $25 an hour is reckless and ignores the multitude of economic studies that show steep wage increases kill jobs,” Paxton told Fox News Digital. “Estimates of lower federal wage increases suggest 1.2 million job losses. This proposal would increase the number of those layoffs and create negative economic impacts for American businesses.”
A bill signed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass increased the minimum wage mandate in Los Angeles to $30; however, this law was planned as a phased process with gradual growth until 2030. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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