Why is Congress a complete bystander as the president imposes the most changes to trade and tariffs in decades? After all, it says it right in the U.S. Constitution that Congress has the power to “regulate Commerce with foreign nations” and to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.”

John,

President Trump is poised to announce a sweeping new trade regime on Wednesday.

President Trump says it is a “Liberation Day,” from the unfair trade practices he believes have disadvantaged our country. But many Americans are concerned it could be a disruption day that spikes the prices of goods and groceries.

Most are understandably debating what these tariffs could mean. But at No Labels, we have been thinking about a different question.

Why is Congress a complete bystander as the president imposes the most changes to trade and tariffs in decades? After all, it says it right in the U.S. Constitution that Congress has the power to “regulate Commerce with foreign nations” and to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.”

The answer is that Congress voluntarily gave up its power to the executive branch. On several occasions in recent decades, Congress passed laws delegating more and more trade and tariff authority to the president. You can learn more about how this happened in a deeper dive from No Labels Senior Policy Analyst Peyton Lofton.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS HERE ▸
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President Trump is obviously pressing his authority to the max on trade, on the DOGE government restructuring and so much else.

Too many have forgotten that Congress – as prescribed in the Constitution – is a coequal branch of government. And it is time for Congress to reassert itself and reclaim its power.

This is a feeling that should be shared by supporters of President Trump, opponents and everyone in between. When Congress passes a law to change something, it is the law of the land permanently, until or unless a future Congress reverses it. Presidential executive orders are often repealed the moment a president from the other party takes over.

Many of No Labels congressional allies are working to reassert the power and independence of Congress. Senator Susan Collins, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, penned a bipartisan letter last week contesting the Trump administration’s decision to unilaterally withhold emergency funding passed by Congress. Last week, Rep. Don Bacon said it was a “mistake” to give presidents so much power to set tariff policy and today Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced a bill to take some of it back.

This is what we need to see more of from Congress. And this is where No Labels comes in.

We are supporting the leaders who refuse to be bystanders as the world rapidly changes. Leaders who are building real relationships across the aisle so they can step up when it counts.

With your support, we will do everything we can to show those leaders still exist.

Sincerely,

Dan Webb

No Labels Board

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