On the 24th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul publicly asked the Trump administration to refund approximately $13.5 billion in tariff payments to New York residents. This move followed the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling last week that Trump's tariff policies were illegal. Hochul called these tariffs essentially "illegal taxes on consumers, small businesses and farmers," and cited data from the Yale Budget Laboratory, pointing out that the average New York household spent $1,751 more due to tariffs, with a total impact across the state of $13.5 billion.
“These unjustified and illegal tariffs are nothing more than a tax on New York consumers, small businesses and farmers – so I’m demanding a full refund,” Hochul said in a statement. “I will never stop fighting for New Yorkers, which means I will always work to put money in your pockets — not take money out of your pockets.”
The Supreme Court ruled that Trump did not have the authority to impose the tariffs under the emergency powers law, emphasizing that the power to impose taxes rests with Congress. The ruling reverses a broad range of tariffs imposed by Trump last year that were aimed at China and other countries but were criticized for burdening American consumers.
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey supported the move: "Trump's tariffs unfairly raise taxes on New Yorkers, driving up costs for working people and increasing operating costs for businesses. Our residents and businesses deserve to get this money back."
Hochul is not alone in his efforts, as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have also issued similar requests.
In his State of the Union address on the 24th, Trump stated that tariffs would be restored through other means. Analysts said the refund request could trigger a wave of lawsuits across the country and test the federal government's response.
