Newsom Demands Refunds After Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs

California Governor Gavin Newsom demanded the return of billions of dollars in tariff revenue on February 20, 2026, after the Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump exceeded his authority in imposing emergency tariffs. The 6-3 decision determined federal law does not grant the president unilateral power to impose such duties without congressional approval. Potential refund claims could total $170 billion, representing more than half of the collected revenue. The court left the handling of these claims to lower courts. California, accounting for roughly 14% of U.S. GDP, argued the tariffs disproportionately harmed its economy.