Luján, Schumer, Wyden, and Senate Democrats Demand Trump Return Money Stolen From Consumers Through Tariff Tax

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senate Democrats in demanding that the Trump administration immediately begin to process refunds for tariffs and customs duties following the Supreme Court ruling that President Trump's tariff regime is illegitimate. The Trump administration continues to reject and stonewall efforts to return this stolen tariff tax back to the people who were hurt the most - small businesses and American consumers. Senate Democrats will fight to make sure that those who were hurt the most by these tariffs get relief.

"The American people - small business owners, importers, manufacturers, and the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of these illegal taxes - deserve better than this stonewalling," the Senators wrote. "This money does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to the businesses and individuals you illegally taxed."

Specifically, the Senators are directing the administration to begin processing refunds automatically, instead of forcing small businesses to file suit to get their money back; ceasing any efforts to delay, condition, or deny refunds; and working to ensure relief flows to the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of the tariffs.

"The Supreme Court's ruling was not, as you characterized it, 'a loss for the American people.' It was a reaffirmation that no president is above the law," the Senators concluded. "The true loss for the American people would be an administration that collected over $130 billion in illegal taxes and then refused - with a smile and a shrug - to give it back. If this administration does not act, Congress will."

In addition to Luján, Schumer and Wyden, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), , Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

The full text of the letter can be seen here and below.

Secretary Bessent,

Your comments following the Supreme Court's decision to correctly invalidate this administration's illegal tariff regime are completely unacceptable, as is the administration's apparent decision to deny automatic refunds of these illegally collected tariffs.

On Friday, after the Supreme Court's ruling, you said "the American people won't see" the billions of dollars in tariff revenue unlawfully collected from them. Then, on Sunday, you doubled down, dismissing questions about refunds as "bad framing," repeatedly insisting the matter is "up to the lower court" rather than the administration, and refusing to answer whether small business owners who bore the cost of these illegal tariffs would ever get their money back.

These statements stand in direct contradiction to your own prior commitments and are a slap in the face to American businesses and families who you illegally taxed by well over $130 billion. In January, you said that issuing tariff refunds "won't be a problem" for the Treasury, and that "if the court says it, we'd have to do it." The Court has said it. In a 6-3 ruling, it found that the president exceeded his legal authority. You need to give the people their money back.

The American people - small business owners, importers, manufacturers, and the consumers who ultimately bore the cost of these illegal taxes - deserve better than this stonewalling. This money does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to the businesses and individuals you illegally taxed.

The administration must immediately:

• Direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin processing automatic refunds for all tariffs and customs duties unlawfully collected under IEEPA since January 20, 2025;
• Establish a transparent and expeditious refund process that prioritizes small businesses and ensures that funds are returned to those who bore the costs;
• Provide a clear public timeline - no longer than 90 days - for the initiation of refund disbursements; and,
• Cease any efforts to delay, condition, or deny refunds pending further litigation, in keeping with your prior assurances that refunds would be issued if the Court ruled.

The Supreme Court's ruling was not, as you characterized it, "a loss for the American people." It was a reaffirmation that no president is above the law. The true loss for the American people would be an administration that collected over $130 billion in illegal taxes and then refused - with a smile and a shrug - to give it back. If this administration does not act, Congress will.

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