The U.S. Supreme Court in February struck down the sweeping tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed via several executive orders and without congressional approval, and ruled (6-3) that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to enact the tariffs had exceeded the president’s authority.
The ruling opened a new fight over tariff refunds (to the importers who had to paid the tariffs), which were estimated in December of 2025 at more than $200 billion.
According to the Liberty Justice Center (LJC), which represents U.S.-based businesses harmed by the new tariffs: “On Friday, the government asked the Federal Circuit to delay refunds for at least 90 more days,” and today the organization “filed our reply and told the court: No The Supreme Court has already affirmed that these tariffs were unlawful. The condition for issuing the mandate has been satisfied. There is no legal basis for further delay. The mandate should issue and the refunds should begin.”
STATEMENT FROM LJC: On Friday, the government asked the Federal Circuit to delay refunds for at least 90 more days.
This morning, we filed our reply and told the court: No
The Supreme Court has already affirmed that these tariffs were unlawful. The condition for issuing the… pic.twitter.com/p4Z2PB2Xib
— Liberty Justice Center (@LJCenter) March 2, 2026
LJC added: “Throughout this litigation, the government reassured the courts: ‘If we lose, refunds can be paid.’ Courts relied on that representation. Now that it has lost, the government wants to slow-walk the refunds.”
Update. The Court in our tariffs case has just rejected the Government’s delay tactic with tariff refunds. We will be proceeding immediately to get the refunds Americans are owed. https://t.co/ojXSEbaFaB pic.twitter.com/KrsMkcZ5gC
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 2, 2026
Neal Katyal, the Supreme Court attorney who argued on behalf of the small businesses that sued the President for imposing tariffs without congressional authorization (Learning Resources Inc. vs Trump), provided an update this afternoon: “The Court in our tariffs case has just rejected the Government’s delay tactic with tariff refunds. We will be proceeding immediately to get the refunds Americans are owed.”
John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel at New Civil Liberties Alliance, replied: “Congrats @neal_katyal. Also, the self-control in not pointing out the virtually zero time delay between your reply to the government’s over the top Friday filing this morning, and the issuance of the mandate is admirable.”