1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support accountability measures in response to President Trump's defiance of the Supreme Court's recent 6-3 ruling striking down his blanket tariffs as illegal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Chief Justice John Roberts clearly stated that "IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs," yet the President immediately circumvented this decision by imposing a new 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, an authority never before used for tariffs. This represents a direct challenge to the separation of powers and the rule of law. The President called the Supreme Court majority a "disgrace to our nation" and announced he would use alternative methods that would "actually increase" tariff revenue, effectively nullifying the Court's decision. This pattern of behavior undermines our constitutional system where the judiciary serves as a check on executive overreach. The economic consequences of these tariffs have been severe. US Customs and Border Protection collected an estimated $170 billion using the now-illegal IEEPA authority, with over $175 billion in tariff revenue potentially subject to refunds according to Penn-Wharton Budget Model economists. The New York Federal Reserve found that 94% of tariff costs were borne by US consumers and businesses in the first eight months of 2025, and JPMorgan Chase Institute data showed that tariffs paid by midsize US businesses tripled in 2025. Companies like Lululemon reported declining gross margins largely due to these tariffs. More than 1,500 companies have filed lawsuits positioning themselves for refunds, creating what Justice Brett Kavanaugh described as a potential "mess" for the US Treasury involving billions of dollars. I urge you to support congressional oversight measures, including hearings on the President's defiance of the Supreme Court ruling, and to consider appropriate accountability mechanisms to ensure no president operates above the law. Our constitutional system depends on all branches respecting judicial decisions.