President Trump directs tariff revenue to fund WIC program during government shutdown

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Trumps tariffs are not constitutional tariffs. They’re imposed by executive order. The money goes into a presidential fund that he directly controls.

Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the president is granted broad authority to regulate or prohibit imports during a declared national emergency. But IEEPA does not give the president direct control over tariff revenue in the sense of managing a personal fund. Instead, all tariff revenue collected by Customs and Border Protection is deposited into the general fund of the U.S. Treasury, as required by law.

However, here’s the key legal nuance: once that revenue enters the Treasury, the president can redirect or allocate portions of it through executive action, especially under emergency declarations, without needing immediate congressional approval. That’s how Trump has been able to use tariff proceeds to fund farm subsidies, emergency relief, and other discretionary programs.

From the Congressional Research Service’s legal analysis:

“IEEPA gives the President extensive economic authorities to address certain emergencies declared under the National Emergencies Act… including the authority to ‘regulate’ or ‘prohibit’ imports.” https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/LSB/PDF/LSB11281/LSB11281.2.pdf

h/t Anger is a Woman

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