AG Brown Urges Congress to Mandate Tariff Refunds Following Supreme Court Ruling

Baltimore, MD – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 11 other attorneys general in calling on Congress to enact legislation requiring the federal government to promptly refund approximately $166 billion in tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This push follows the Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026, ruling that struck down the Trump administration’s use of IEEPA to impose these tariffs .

Supreme Court Decision and Prior Commitments

The Supreme Court’s decision invalidated the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in April 2025, which were based on the claim of authority under IEEPA. Whereas the court did not directly address the issue of refunds, the Biden Administration had previously acknowledged in court filings that refunds with interest would be necessary if the IEEPA tariffs were deemed unlawful .

Concerns Over Refund Process

Attorney General Brown and the coalition are concerned that the Administration’s proposed refund process will be cumbersome and disadvantage many importers. Currently, importers would need to apply for refunds or initiate legal action. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) possesses a database of all IEEPA tariff payments, but only six percent of importers are currently registered on the agency’s new direct deposit platform required for refunds . The Administration has too indicated that multiple refund processes may be required depending on the shipment status.

Call for Equitable and Efficient Refunds

The attorneys general are advocating for legislation that would establish an automatic, equitable, and streamlined refund process for all affected importers. They also urge Congress to hold accountable businesses that passed the tariff costs onto consumers, requiring them to reimburse customers for those expenses. The coalition highlighted that the tariffs disproportionately impacted low-income consumers, as prices on cheaper goods rose faster than those on more expensive items .

Coalition Members

Attorney General Brown joined the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia in sending the letter to House and Senate leadership.

Recent Actions by Attorney General Brown Against the Trump Administration

This action is the latest in a series of legal challenges brought by Attorney General Brown against the Trump administration. In the past week, he has also joined coalitions challenging a data demand to colleges and universities and opposing attacks on independent medical organizations and . Critics have characterized these actions as “political theatre,” noting that Attorney General Brown has initiated over 100 actions against the Trump administration .