Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court, in a decisive 6–3 ruling, struck down the sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump at the start of his presidency. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated, “the President must ‘point to clear congressional authorization’ to justify his extraordinary assertion of the power to impose tariffs...He cannot.” With this ruling, the Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the statute cited by the Trump Administration, does not authorize the imposition of tariffs and reaffirmed that the Constitution assigns tariff authority to Congress.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs is a victory for the American people and a powerful reminder that no one — not even Donald Trump — is above the law. But let me be clear, this decision does not undo the real harm these tariffs have already caused. The New York Fed found that 90 percent of the economic burden from Trump’s tariffs fell on U.S. businesses and American consumers, not foreign companies, no matter how many times Trump falsely said that wouldn’t happen. Families paid more at the grocery store. Builders paid more to build homes. Small businesses paid more just to keep their doors open. That is the reality, and unfortunately, the Court failed to provide a way for Americans to get their money back.

Just last month, during a Financial Services Committee hearing, I pressed Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the economic consequences of Trump’s tariffs, and he deflected and refused to even acknowledge all of the damage Trump’s reckless economic policies have caused. Make no mistake, this fight is far from over. Trump is already searching for new ways to skirt the law and impose new tariffs despite the deepening affordability crisis facing families across this country.

But as I’ve said time and time again, Donald Trump is not a king. He does not get to sidestep Congress, abuse his authorities, and force American families to foot the bill. I, alongside my Democratic colleagues, will continue using every tool available to hold this Administration accountable, protect the American people from Trump’s lawlessness, and drive down costs.”

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