Governor Ned Lamont and the governors of 18 other states called on March 11 for Congress to enact new statutory limits on presidential power to impose tariffs, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that presidents do not have the authority to use emergency powers for this purpose.
The request comes after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, which clarified that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not allow the president to set tariffs. The governors said their states’ residents—including farmers, manufacturers, small business owners, and working families—have faced significant economic harm from tariffs imposed by the executive branch over the past year.
In a letter addressed to Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, the governors wrote: “We write to you today with shared concern for the residents of our states — our farmers, manufacturers, small business owners, and working families — who have experienced significant economic harm as a result of the sweeping tariffs imposed by the Executive Branch this past year.” They continued: “With last week’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump establishing that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs, we respectfully urge you to cast aside any efforts to codify the invalidated levies struck down by the Supreme Court and instead enact meaningful statutory constraints on presidential tariff power that allow for appropriate congressional review.”
The letter also highlighted how broad tariffs had led to higher prices for everyday goods and increased financial strain on American families. The governors cited independent analyses estimating these tariffs cost average households hundreds or even over a thousand dollars per year.
They further noted public disapproval of current tariff policies: “Just this month, sixty-three percent of registered voters said they disapprove of the administration’s handling of tariffs.” The letter concluded with an appeal for bipartisan action: “The Supreme Court has spoken, and now it is Congress’s turn to act. We urge you to seize this moment, work across party lines, and restore to the American people meaningful control over trade policy that affects their daily lives.”
The coalition includes governors from Michigan, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington state and Wisconsin.
