On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled–in a six-to-three decision–that President Donald Trump’s tariff scheme is illegal without Congressional authorization. The President’s use of an emergency law to universally impose steep tariffs on U. S. trading partners was struck down.
These Justices voted against invalidating the tariffs: Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, “The Framers gave that power to ‘Congress alone’– not withstanding the obvious foreign affairs implications of tariffs. And whatever may be said of other powers that implicate foreign affairs, we would not expect Congress to relinquish its tariff power through vague language, or without careful limits.”
Trump [abused] language in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), to jusify that he had the “independent power to impose tariffs on imports from any Country, of any product,” at any time. Robert said Trump lacked the peacetime authority to use IEPPA to pose tariffs.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) released the following statement.
“Donald Trump’s tariffs have bankrupted farmers, caused small businesses to close, and made it harder for my neighbors to pay their bills. Going around Congress, he recklessly and unlawfully taxed every American, and today the Supreme Court righted this wrong. It’s time for House Republicans to join Democrats to provide real cost relief for working families, repair our economy, and prevent any President from abusing their power ever again.”
Congressman Sorensen is a co-sponsor of the Prevent Tariff Abuse Act and the Small Business Liberation Act.