DEAD ON ARRIVAL: Why Are Senate Republicans Supporting a Bill to Curb President Trump’s Tariff Authority?

By The Blog Source

Top Republicans in the Senate made it clear Monday that they have no interest in limiting President Trump's tariff authority, rejecting a bipartisan proposal as unlikely to pass in the face of new market turmoil brought on by Trump's sweeping 10% import duties. The Senate leadership showed no signs of easing their stance as stocks fell for a third day in a row.

The bipartisan Trade Review Act "doesn't have a future," according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who cited President Trump's threat of veto and anticipated opposition from the House. The plan, which is supported by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), would require a 60-day expiration period and congressional approval for new tariffs.

Although the bill has seven Senate Republicans as co-sponsors (See Below), the top GOP leadership continues to support Trump's strict trade policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the enthusiasm behind the idea, saying, "I don't think that has a future." "The president has indicated he will veto it," he said, underscoring the White House's unambiguous opposition to the measure. How they manage to get it to the House floor is beyond me.”

Earlier in the day, the White House formally threatened to veto it, echoing that stance. The administration claimed in a statement that the bill would "dangerously hamper the president's authority and duty to determine our foreign policy and protect our national security."

By mandating that Congress be notified at least 48 hours prior to the announcement of tariffs and that they automatically expire within 60 days unless specifically approved by lawmakers, the Trade Review Act of 2025 seeks to restore a congressional check on the executive's trade authority. Even though it has bipartisan support, including seven Republican co-sponsors, leadership that supports Trump's populist economic strategy is blocking it.

The proposal was as much about reclaiming constitutional authority as it was about tariff policy, according to early co-sponsor Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). "The Senate's responsibility and the issue of tariffs and their effects are the main reasons I signed on," she stated.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has urged patience, arguing that Trump's plan is a crucial long-term move to boost American manufacturing and reduce trade imbalances, while Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) is pushing a parallel bill in the House. Johnson said, "Give the president space."

Party leaders are steadfast in their support of the 47th president's strategy, despite some Republican members raising concerns about growing consumer costs and casting doubt on Congress' century-long retreat on trade authority. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), expressing optimism in Trump's high-stakes trade negotiations, stated, "It's evident to me that there are many conversations, when you see reports, that many countries are in."

The larger conflict within the GOP is ultimately reflected in this episode: a growing minority of fiscal conservatives and institutionalists calls for restrictions on executive power, while the party's base supports a dominant Trump-aligned leadership that is doubling down on assertive, America-first policies. Trump continues to hold a firm grip on trade policy for now.

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