Overview
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the payments would require new legislation and would be limited by income thresholds.
- President Trump said the payouts will come next year and would be funded from tariff receipts.
- The Supreme Court is reviewing the administration’s tariff authority, a decision that could undermine the revenue base for the plan.
- Independent estimates indicate tariff revenue is well below the roughly $300 billion needed to fund $2,000 payments for lower- and middle-income Americans.
- Officials have suggested the benefit could be delivered via tax changes—such as no tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security—instead of direct checks.