Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, and Treasurer Dereck E. Davis have sent a joint letter to President Donald Trump formally seeking reimbursement of tariff revenues collected from Maryland consumers and businesses. The request follows a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court that ruled certain tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration “unconstitutional.”

In a statement issued February 27, Governor Moore’s office said that because of President Trump’s “illegal tariffs,” Maryland businesses and consumers incurred an estimated $4 billion in direct and indirect costs, or roughly $1,744 per household.

The three officials urged the Administration to take immediate steps to return the funds to the State of Maryland for “equitable distribution.”

Their letter comes after a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court, which determined that the executive branch lacked the “constitutional authority” to impose “sweeping global tariffs” under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The Court reaffirmed that the authority to levy taxes and tariffs rests with “Congress.”

The state leaders argued that the tariffs imposed significant costs across key Maryland sectors, including the Port of Baltimore, “advanced manufacturing, life science companies, small businesses, and family farms,” resulting in higher prices for consumers.

“I have long said that while tariffs are a tool of international trade, the Trump-Vance Administration has waged war on our families and raised taxes on us all,” said Gov. Moore. “This isn’t just about bad policy; this is about the Supreme Court making it clear that these unilateral actions are illegal. This $4 billion represents real money taken away from Maryland families—now the Trump Administration needs to do what’s right and pay Marylanders back.”

State officials cited analysis from the U.S. Joint Economic Committee estimating that tariff actions cost American households approximately $1,744 per year. Applying that figure to Maryland’s roughly 2.4 million households, they estimate that families and businesses in the state absorbed about $4 billion while the tariffs were in effect.

“Our demand figure represents real dollars taken from the pockets of Marylanders—dollars that could have supported hiring, business expansion, and household budgets,” said Comptroller Brooke Lierman. “The Trump Administration is proposing that taxpayers foot the bill on their illegal tariffs twice—first in payments made for higher-priced goods and second to reimburse businesses for repayments. Our constituents deserve relief and repayment.”

“As Treasurer, it is my duty to safeguard the financial interests of our state,” said Treasurer Dereck E. Davis. “Maryland businesses and working families should not have to pay the price for unlawful federal policies. My office stands ready to work with the Comptroller and Governor to ensure these funds are returned to where they belong—in the pockets of our citizens.”

In their joint letter, the officials requested that tariff revenues collected from Maryland businesses and consumers be remitted to the Office of the Comptroller so the state can implement an orderly and equitable refund process.

They also noted that “federal courts established a refund mechanism in the 1990s when the harbor maintenance fee was struck down as unconstitutional, demonstrating that restitution at scale is both legally appropriate and administratively feasible.” The officials expressed their willingness to work with the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish an efficient reimbursement framework.

“Today’s joint letter builds on steps the state of Maryland is taking to protect Maryland businesses and consumers,” they added.

During the current legislative session, Governor Moore introduced the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act as part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s agenda before the Maryland General Assembly.

“The proposed legislation shields Marylanders from invasive data practices and unpredictable price spikes that make their grocery bills more expensive,” the statement emphasized. “The governor also announced the Lower Bills and Local Power Act as part of the 2026 legislative agenda, which is focused on securing an affordable and reliable energy future for Maryland and providing additional direct energy bill rebates to Maryland families.”

Earlier this week, Comptroller Lierman also joined a coalition of 15 state financial officers in sending a separate letter to the president urging the “Trump Administration to uphold constitutional limits on tariff authority and refrain from implementing sweeping trade actions without clear congressional authorization.”

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