<\/p>\n
The crowd cheers as President Donald Trump dances to \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d before leaving the stage at the end of a political rally at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump is promising Americans a $5,000 payment if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in November\u2019s midterm elections. He\u00a0repeated the pledge<\/a> at Wednesday’s rally in San Antonio<\/a>.<\/p>\n But political and economic experts say the proposal faces significant financial and legislative hurdles, making it uncertain whether the money will reach Americans.\u00a0Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n How much would Trump\u2019s $5,000 checks cost?<\/p>\n Distributing $5,000 to roughly 240 million adult U.S. citizens would cost about $1.2 trillion in a single year \u2014 more than all three rounds of COVID-19 relief checks combined,\u00a0PolitiFact reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marc\u00a0Goldwein, senior vice president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, warned that the expense would worsen the federal government’s fiscal outlook.<\/p>\n In a Sept. 10 social media\u00a0post<\/a>, he wrote,\u201cthe result would be a huge spike in the deficit, and almost certainly in the inflation rate<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Meet the new TV reporter pulling double duty on Fox SA and News 4<\/a><\/p>\n The national debt topped $40 trillion in 2026, and\u00a0economists have warned<\/a> that $5,000 payments could worsen inflation and add to the deficit.<\/p>\n \u201cIf financial markets are already concerned about U.S. budget deficits, which are historically large and are projected to grow, and the message that you\u2019re giving is, \u2018We don\u2019t really care. We\u2019re almost going to double our deficits\u2019 \u2014 that\u2019s madness,\u201d Erica York, senior economist with the Tax Foundation\u2019s Center for Federal Tax Policy,\u00a0told CBS News<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Where would the money come from?<\/p>\n Trump and Vice President JD Vance have pointed to using tariff revenue collected by the Trump administration as a potential funding source for the $5,000 payments. However, collections falls well below the estimated cost. Tariffs are generating about $125 billion in annual revenue \u00a0\u2014 one-tenth of the $1.25 trillion needed to pay $5,000 to roughly 245 million U.S. adults, according to York<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Additionally, some of the tariff revenue may have to be refunded.In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not give Trump the power to impose sweeping tariffs worldwide, saying only Congress has the authority to set and collect tariffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Cowboys Dance Hall landlord sues venue operator after bankruptcy<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Framers (of the Constitution) recognized the unique importance of this taxing power \u2014 a power which \u2018very clear(ly)\u2019 includes the power to impose tariffs,\u201d the\u00a0ruling says.<\/a> The ruling applied to tariffs imposed under that 1977 law, and did not invalidate tariffs imposed under other authorities or explicitly order refunds.<\/p>\n The funding shortfall would likely require the government to borrow more, adding to the national debt. Steve Ellis, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said the proposal would \u201csimply add to the debt and fuel inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThe nation is staring down the barrel of a $40 trillion debt,\u201d Ellis told<\/a> PolitiFact. \u201cThis proposal is ridiculous and wasteful.\u201d<\/p>\n Is Trump legally allowed to do this?<\/p>\n Trump can propose the payments, but Congress controls federal spending and would have to approve them.<\/p>\n Even if Republicans retain both chambers, passage is far from certain. PolitiFact reported<\/a> that the proposal would face significant hurdles in the Senate, where most legislation needs a simple majority of 51 votes for a final passage and 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have the power to do this on his own,\u201d Rick\u00a0Hasen, UCLA School of Law professor and election law expert, told PBS News<\/a>. \u201cYou have to get Congress to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n ALSO READ: 18 protesters escorted out as Trump rally in San Antonio turns chaotic<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n