Treasurer Pieciak Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Trump Tariffs

Montpelier, VT — Today, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs using a law reserved for a national emergency.

In response, Treasurer Mike Pieciak issued the following statement:

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a reminder that we are a country ruled by laws—and you can’t invent a crisis to break them.

By striking down Trump’s misuse of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Supreme Court is ending the so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and levies on imports from Canada and Mexico.

These tariffs represented one of the biggest tax increases in history on working- and middle-class Americans.

This is welcome news for Vermont families, workers, and small businesses—especially those that rely on trade with our neighbors to the north.

But let’s be clear: no court decision can undo the harm inflicted by these tariffs. The federal government collected more than $120 billion from these tariffs, and the facts show that nearly all of it was paid for by Americans businesses and consumers—not foreign countries.

The tariffs have forced small businesses to lay off employees and raise prices, costing households an extra $1,000 in 2025 alone.

While it is not entirely clear what happens next, the message is clear: the President alone does not have the authority to impose a tax on the American people.”