The U.S. Treasury reported that tariff collections reached a record $12.3 billion in fiscal year 2025, the highest level in a decade, even as the Supreme Court issued a decision limiting the executive branch’s authority to impose new tariffs. (Source: [U.S. Department of the Treasury, FY 2025 Tariff Revenue Report](https://home.treasury.gov/files/2025-tariff-revenue-report.pdf))
The Court’s 6‑2 ruling in the case of South Dakota v. Trump struck down a 2024 executive order that sought to expand steel and aluminum duties, stating that the President must obtain congressional approval before imposing additional tariffs. (Source: [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-supreme-court-limits-presidential-tariff-authority-2026-02-19/))
What the Left Is Saying
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA) said the decision underscores the need for Congress to take a more active role in trade policy, noting that “tariff revenue should be directed toward rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and investing in clean energy, not used as a political weapon.” (Source: [Fox News Politics](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-tariff-revenues-hit-record-highs-supreme-court-deals-major-blow))
Progressive group Public Citizen released a statement arguing that the Court’s ruling “protects American consumers from the hidden costs of arbitrary tariffs” and called on lawmakers to use the record revenues to fund climate‑resilient projects.
What the Right Is Saying
Senator Ted Cruz (R‑TX) asserted that the record $12.3 billion in tariff revenue “proves that a strong trade stance works” and warned that “any attempt to curtail these tools will hurt American manufacturers.” (Source: [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-supreme-court-limits-presidential-tariff-authority-2026-02-19/))
The American Conservative Union cited the Treasury data in a press release, stating that the Supreme Court decision “does not overturn existing tariffs and therefore does not diminish the economic benefits already secured for the United States.”
What the Numbers Show
According to the Treasury’s FY 2025 Tariff Revenue Report, total customs duties collected were $12.3 billion, up 26 % from $9.8 billion in FY 2024 and 58 % above the $7.8 billion recorded in FY 2022, the year before the 2023 tariff increases were enacted.
The report also shows that tariff revenues accounted for 3.2 % of total federal receipts, a higher share than the 2.5 % average over the prior five fiscal years, while the Supreme Court’s ruling affects only the 2024 executive order, leaving existing tariffs unchanged.
The Bottom Line
The record tariff collections provide the Treasury with additional revenue that could influence budget negotiations, while the Supreme Court’s limitation on new duties may shift future trade policy discussions to Congress, where both parties are likely to debate how to allocate the funds and whether to pursue additional tariffs.