February 21, 2026 - Washington, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling that the Trump-Vance administration overstepped emergency powers by illegally imposing tariffs against nearly every country in the world without congressional approval:

“Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what we’ve been saying for the past year: Trump’s haphazard and reckless tariff policy is illegal and unconstitutional.  

“A President who campaigned on reducing costs only drove them up for every single American, all while pushing away our allies with this illegal abuse of power. He left Americans on edge by injecting uncertainty into every aspect of our economy, from consumers to small businesses, and from manufacturers to farmers. And he did so by abusing emergency powers not intended to give him that authority. 

“Americans are already being squeezed by Trump’s failed economic agenda, and do not need more uncertainty. The President must not attempt to impose new, unilateral tariffs without congressional approval, because it is the American people who will suffer. This ruling reaffirms that Congress has sole authority over tariffs and gives struggling families a reprieve from paying more and more for everyday life.” 

Background: Senator Schiff has repeatedly called for investigations into whether Trump administration officials engaged in insider trading or illegal financial transactions linked to Trump’s on-again and off-again tariff policy.   

Source: Senator Adam Schiff