Statement from Concord Action on Supreme Court Tariffs Decision
WASHINGTON, DC – February 20, 2026 – In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling today that President Trump has no authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of Concord Action, released the following statement:
“We have long warned that tariffs imposed unilaterally by the executive branch are not a reliable long-term source of revenue and should not be a foundation for significant deficit reduction claims until they are legally enacted by Congress.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that higher tariffs would reduce deficits by around $3 trillion over the next 10 years – a significant portion of which was projected to come from tariffs imposed under IEEPA. However, CBO warned that this revenue source was uncertain.
While the Administration may have other avenues for imposing tariffs, such actions will continue to be subject to executive discretion which can be reversed by future executive action, by the courts, or by Congress.
We encourage Congress to reclaim its responsibilities when it comes to the power of the purse and to prioritize a long-term fiscal plan that reduces our unsustainable federal debt.”
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