House Republicans hand over tariff powers to Trump until 2026

In the United States, House Republicans recently took decisive action to further relinquish their constitutional power regarding tariffs to President Donald Trump. On September 16, 2025, the House voted to extend a resolution that prevents Congress from terminating the national emergency Trump invoked to impose various tariffs until March 31, 2026. This decision follows a pattern of similar votes over the years where the Republican-led Congress has continuously opted to disregard its authority over trade policy, ultimately sidelining itself from necessary legislative intervention. The National Emergencies Act under which these tariffs were imposed presents significant implications for the economy, as the tariffs have consistently been criticized as being detrimental to economic stability. Critics, including Democratic representatives, have argued that this transfer of power amounts to a significant tax increase on Americans and neglects Congress’s responsibility to uphold its financial legislative duties. With increasing concerns over executive overreach in recent years, particularly under the Trump administration, Republican members of Congress have shown a tendency towards capitulation rather than confrontation when it comes to issues of trade tariffs, diminishing their own institutional power. Historical context reveals that this has been an ongoing trend, with Congress increasingly willing to offload its constitutional responsibilities to the executive branch. Various court rulings have emerged contesting the legality of the tariffs, yet despite legal challenges, Congress has largely remained passive, highlighting the current political state where legislative authority continues to be compromised willingly. This trend raises critical questions regarding the long-term consequences for democracy and the role of Congress in shaping critical national policy and economic issues.