U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s promise to send $2,000 tariff dividend checks to most Americans would require new legislation to be implemented.
According to Axios, Trump’s plan—announced multiple times to distribute tariff dividends—has gained prominence as the administration faces a rising affordability crisis.
“We’ll see… we need legislation to do that,” Bessent said in an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures.
It is not entirely clear who will receive the checks. Trump indicated in posts on Truth Social that the payments would be aimed at low- and middle-income Americans only. Bessent said on Sunday that the checks would target working families and include an income cap.
Experts Warn Tariff Dividend Checks Could Fuel Inflation Amid Legal Uncertainty
However, experts warn that any cash payout, as seen with previous stimulus checks, carries the risk of triggering inflation—exactly as the administration claims it is attempting to reduce prices and boost Americans’ purchasing power.
There is also a pending Supreme Court case that could invalidate most of Trump’s tariffs, depriving the government of tens of billions of dollars in revenue to fund the checks.
If legislation is required, Congress would need to decide whether it is even willing to consider such a measure.
Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) told Fox News on Sunday: “I certainly hope Congress takes a look at it.”