February 20, 2026
RED FM News Desk
The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday invalidated sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump under a law intended for national emergencies, delivering a major ruling with significant implications for the global economy.
In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court upheld a lower court’s finding that Trump exceeded his authority by invoking a 1977 statute to justify the tariffs. The law in question, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), grants the president certain powers during national emergencies, but the justices ruled it does not authorize the broad tariff measures Trump pursued.
The court concluded that the Trump administration’s interpretation of the law would improperly encroach on Congress’s constitutional authority over trade and taxation. The majority cited the “major questions” doctrine, which requires clear congressional authorization for executive actions of vast economic and political significance.
The doctrine, embraced by the court’s conservative majority, has previously been used to block key executive actions taken by former Democratic President Joe Biden. Legal experts say the latest ruling further defines the limits of presidential power and reinforces Congress’s central role in major economic policymaking.
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