Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) on Monday pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for a plan to get tariff refunds to households after the Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs.

Lawmakers Seek Plan For Consumer Refunds

"We write to seek information about what steps, if any, the Administration will take to make consumers whole for the illegal IEEPA tariffs—and, if President Trump's replacement tariffs are also struck down, for those tariffs as well," the senators wrote.

The Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the president to impose tariffs. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) later opened its CAPE portal for importers and brokers to seek refunds, while consumers cannot file claims directly.

Tariff Costs Fell Heavily On Americans

CBP collected roughly $166 billion under IEEPA. The Congressional Budget Office said in August that most would be refunded during fiscal 2026. Reuters reported in July that $71 billion had already been returned in May and June, while Warren's office said almost $100 billion had gone back to companies.

The lawmakers argue consumers bore much of the tariff burden. CBO estimated foreign exporters absorbed only about 5% of tariff costs imposed since 2025, with U.S. people and businesses bearing most of the rest. Federal Reserve researchers separately found the 2025 tariffs raised core-goods PCE prices by 3.1% through February 2026.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office did not respond immediately to MarketDash's request for comment.

Corporate Refunds Intensify Pressure On Administration

Some large companies have disclosed sizable refunds. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) said it was eligible for about $2.9 billion and had received nearly all of it, while saying it would use much of the money to lower prices. General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) reported about $500 million in tariff relief.

"Without such a plan, President Trump's reckless trade policy risks becoming nothing but a multi-billion-dollar scheme to transfer wealth from consumers to giant corporations," the senators wrote.

They asked Greer to explain how corporate refunds would reach consumers, detail revenue from replacement Section 122, 338 and 301 tariffs, provide legal analysis and outline contingency plans if courts strike them down. They requested answers by Oct. 5.