Fact check: What is the federal minimum wage?

1. Summary of the results

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}. This rate has remained unchanged since July 24, 2009 ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}, making it 15 years without an increase as of 2024 ^[5]. The wage is established under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which has undergone various amendments throughout its history since 1938 ^{[9] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• Poverty implications: The current federal minimum wage is considered a "poverty wage" that falls below the poverty threshold ^[2], highlighting significant concerns about its adequacy for basic living standards.
• Inflation impact: The 15-year freeze means the minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation or the current cost of living ^{[5] [7]}, creating equity implications for low-wage workers ^[7].
• Legislative proposals: There are active efforts to change this rate, including a proposed bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting in January 2026 ^[3]. Notably, this proposal comes from Conservative Josh Hawley ^[3], indicating bipartisan interest in addressing the issue.
• Economic advocacy: Organizations like the Center for American Progress advocate for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour as an investment in growing the middle class ^[8], while the Economic Policy Institute frames the current wage as inadequate for addressing poverty ^[2].

Beneficiaries of different viewpoints:

• Labor advocacy groups and progressive organizations benefit from emphasizing the poverty wage narrative to push for increases
• Business interests may benefit from maintaining the current lower rate to control labor costs
• Politicians from both parties can benefit from positioning themselves as champions of workers through minimum wage proposals

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry about the current federal minimum wage rate. However, the question's simplicity omits the broader economic and social context that makes this topic politically significant, including the 15-year stagnation period and ongoing legislative efforts for substantial increases.