Overview
- President Trump reiterated that $2,000 payments could start around mid-2026 and signaled high earners would be excluded, with an income cap discussed near $100,000.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan requires legislation and floated urging recipients to save the money, linking the idea to forthcoming “Trump accounts” for children.
- Independent analyses estimate the checks would cost from roughly $280 billion to more than $600 billion, exceeding projected new tariff revenue and risking a larger deficit.
- Justices voiced skepticism about the administration’s emergency tariff authority, a potential ruling that analysts say could wipe out much of the revenue claimed to fund the dividends.
- Top Senate Republicans questioned the payout concept and suggested using tariff receipts to reduce debt, while prediction markets assign very low odds to a near-term rollout.