Michigan Governor Calls on Congress to Limit Presidential Tariff Powers

Whitmer and 18 other state leaders urge legislative action after Supreme Court ruling.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:18am

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has sent a letter to Congress signed by 18 other state governors, calling for the enactment of statutory restraints on the president's authority to impose tariffs. The letter comes after the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that former President Donald Trump's tariffs were illegal, with Whitmer stating the impacts of those tariffs "ripple through every sector of our economy."

Why it matters

The governors argue that Congress needs to review and constrain presidential tariff powers in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, which found that the president overstepped their authority in imposing certain tariffs. This reflects growing bipartisan concern over the economic impacts of unilateral tariff decisions made by the executive branch.

The details

In the letter, Whitmer and the other governors cite data from the Michigan Retailers Association showing that nearly 75% of retail businesses in the state had a negative or strongly negative impact from the Trump administration's tariffs. They are now urging Congress to pass legislation that would impose statutory limits on the president's ability to unilaterally impose tariffs without Congressional approval.

  • The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that former President Donald Trump's tariffs were illegal.

The players

Gretchen Whitmer

The governor of Michigan who led the effort to send the letter to Congress.

Michigan Retailers Association

An organization that found nearly 75% of retail businesses in Michigan were negatively impacted by the Trump administration's tariffs.

U.S. Supreme Court

The court that recently ruled that former President Donald Trump's tariffs were illegal.

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What they’re saying

“The impacts of those 'ripple through every sector of our economy.'”

— Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan

What’s next

Congress will need to consider the governors' request and determine if they will pass legislation to limit the president's tariff powers.

The takeaway

This bipartisan effort by state governors highlights the widespread economic damage caused by unilateral presidential tariff decisions, and the growing political pressure for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over trade policy.