MD Lawmakers React To SCOTUS Ruling On Trump's Illegal Tariffs

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on countries worldwide violate federal law, a decision that prompted swift responses from some Maryland lawmakers.

The ruling, the first of Trump's wider agenda to appear before SCOTUS since the start of his second term last year, is seen as a major blow to the president. In the past, Trump has repeatedly described the case as one of the most important in U.S. history, claiming the country is "screwed" if the tariffs are struck down.

In a majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the judges decided by a vote of 6-3 that the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs Trump levied on nearly every country in the world are unlawful.

The majority also found that the Constitution “very clearly” gives Congress the power to impose taxes, which include tariffs. “The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Roberts wrote.

Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

"Finally, SCOTUS reaffirms what we've known all along — Trump's tariffs are an unconstitutional tax on the American people," Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said on X. "Over the last year, working people paid an average of $1,000 more because of these tariffs. And Trump has no plan to put that money back in your wallet."

Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat from Annapolis, also weighed in, calling the ruling "good news for American families."

"It also places a critical check on the President and reasserts Congress’s role as a coequal branch of government," Elfreth said.

Other reactions from Maryland lawmakers were:

As of publication, Andy Harris, Maryland's lone Republican U.S. representative, had not released a statement on the court's ruling.

Imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the tariffs have drawn scrutiny worldwide, including in the United States, from business leaders and organizations.

The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import taxes the president has imposed under the emergency powers law as of December, federal data shows. The impact over the next decade was estimated at some $3 trillion.

The court majority did not address whether companies could get refunded for the billions they have collectively paid in tariffs. Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up to demand refunds in lower courts.

The tariff decision also doesn’t stop Trump from imposing duties under other laws. While those have more limitations on the speed and severity of Trump’s actions, top administration officials have said they expect to keep the tariff framework in place under other authorities.

Trump called the majority decision “a disgrace” when he was notified during his morning meeting with several governors, according to someone with direct knowledge of the president’s reaction who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.