The Funding Problem
As of September 30, tariff revenue totaled $195 billion—far below what would be required to deliver $2,000 to everyone eligible.
To make up the difference, the administration may lean on projected revenue. The Treasury Department expects $3 trillion from tariffs over the next decade. But tapping into future income would further expand the national debt, which already exceeds $38 trillion.
New tariff increases, set to begin next week, include:
-
a 50% tariff on cabinets
-
a potential 100% tariff on branded or patented pharmaceuticals
Trump has defended these sharp increases, insisting that tariffs are key to making the U.S. the “Richest, Most Respected Country in the World.”
