Reuters
(New York, New York) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul is demanding that the Trump administration return what she calls billions of dollars unfairly taken from New Yorkers through what she describes as “illegal tariffs.”
In a sharply worded statement posted Tuesday afternoon, Hochul accused former President Donald Trump of imposing tariffs that acted as a “backdoor tax” on families across the Empire State.
“Trump’s illegal tariffs are a backdoor tax on New Yorkers,” Hochul wrote. “$1,751 per household. $13.5 billion drained from our state. The administration should pay every dollar back.”
$1,751 Per Household?
Hochul’s office argues that tariff-related price increases have effectively cost the average New York household $1,751, adding up to an estimated $13.5 billion statewide. The governor did not immediately outline how the state calculated those figures, but economists have long debated the extent to which tariffs are passed on to consumers through higher prices on imported goods.
Tariffs — taxes placed on foreign imports — are paid by U.S. importers, though critics argue those costs are often shifted to consumers in the form of higher retail prices.
Legal and Political Fight
The demand comes amid broader legal battles over Trump-era trade policies. The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down portions of the administration’s sweeping tariff actions, marking a major setback for the former president’s economic agenda.
Trump’s illegal tariffs are a backdoor tax on New Yorkers.
$1,751 per household.
$13.5 billion drained from our state.The administration should pay every dollar back.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 24, 2026
Hochul’s call for repayment raises legal questions, as there is no clear mechanism for direct reimbursement to individual households for tariff-related costs. Still, the governor framed the issue as one of fairness.
“The administration should pay every dollar back,” she insisted.
Broader Political Stakes
The clash underscores the deep divide between Democratic state leaders like Hochul and Trump-aligned economic policy. Supporters of the tariffs argue they were designed to protect American manufacturing and counter unfair trade practices abroad. Critics, including Hochul, say the measures disproportionately hurt consumers and small businesses.
Whether New Yorkers will see any form of repayment remains uncertain. But the governor’s message was clear: she wants Washington to answer for what she calls billions taken from families across her state.
