WASHINGTON — Key House Republicans halted a crucial procedural vote on Tuesday, affecting a ban on congressional action against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. The move came as Republican Reps. Don Bacon, Thomas Massie, and Kevin Kiley sided with Democrats, resulting in a 214-217 vote that blocked language to continue preventing House votes challenging Trump’s import taxes under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-N.C., abstained from voting.
“I don’t like putting the important work of the House on pause, but Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs,” Bacon stated on X after the vote. “Tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying.” He emphasized the constitutional authority of Congress over taxes and tariffs, urging a reclaim of this responsibility and opposed using procedural ‘rules’ votes to legislate.
The provision, part of a vote on three unrelated bills, aimed to extend the ban until July 31. Trump’s national emergency declarations in 2025 led to prohibiting congressional challenges to tariffs imposed on Feb. 1, April 2, July 30, and Aug. 6. These tariffs targeted imports from Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil, and India.
Trump’s unprecedented use of IEEPA for imposing global tariffs is currently under U.S. Supreme Court review following a lawsuit by small businesses. The justices heard oral arguments in early November, with a decision anticipated for several months.
