Key Takeaways:

• House Republicans voted 216-214 to delay Congress's ability to challenge Trump’s tariffs for the remainder of 2025.
• The new provision was integrated into a procedural resolution linked to a stopgap funding bill.
• Democrats condemned the move, warning it empowers Trump to raise taxes via tariffs without congressional oversight.

On March 11, the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives voted narrowly to block the ability of Congress to quickly challenge tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. This decision, marked by a The Hill report, delays lawmakers' efforts to revoke the tariffs and related immigration measures for the rest of the year, sparking fierce reactions from Democratic representatives.

Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) criticized the vote, claiming it grants Trump expanded powers to impose tax increases on American households through tariffs. “Every House Republican who voted for this measure is voting to give Trump expanded powers... with full knowledge of how he is using those powers,” they stated in a joint release. Their concerns echo broader fears that this legislative action undermines democratic processes and cedes undue authority to the executive branch.

According to Reuters, the vote was largely along party lines, with officials asserting that the change merely ensures that Congress cannot limit presidential authority during this period. This legislative shift halts any proposal intended to challenge Trump’s tariffs, which have already disrupted trade relations, particularly with Canada and Mexico, as reported by VOA News.

The revision to House voting rules effectively manipulates the calendar mechanism used to initiate a review of Trump's emergency powers. Initially, the National Emergencies Act permits a fast-track process for Congress to challenge such declarations, but the recent vote changes the counting of days, effectively nullifying any attempts to force a vote on revoking the tariffs this year.

Speaker Mike Johnson commented on the decision, expressing confidence in the White House and stating, “This is an appropriate balance of powers.” However, critics, including some former legislative aides, argue that using emergency powers for tariff imposition is unprecedented and diminishes congressional authority over trade matters.