Overview
- National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said tariff receipts appear large enough to cover $2,000 payments to middle- and lower-income Americans without tapping the broader budget.
- Despite the endorsement, Hassett stressed the payouts would require new legislation and said officials are studying the numbers before any decision.
- The White House says it is exploring all legal options, and the proposal remains theoretical with no formal legislative text or timeline.
- Treasury data show about $195 billion collected in customs duties through fiscal year 2025, while independent estimates peg the plan’s cost at roughly $300 billion to as high as $600 billion.
- A pending Supreme Court decision on the administration’s tariff authority and Republican concerns over inflation and debt add significant risk to the proposal.