U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Sunday that proposed one-time $2,000 payments funded by tariff revenue would not worsen inflation — and could offer meaningful relief to families feeling squeezed by high costs.
According to Fox News, during an interview on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Greer said, “This is real money that’s coming in, and we get to decide what to do with it.”
“The $2,000, that’s one option,” he added, noting that President Donald Trump is “eager to discuss and explore more” proposals as tariff receipts continue to rise.
Greer pushed back on warnings that the plan could stoke higher prices, insisting the proposal isn’t large enough or long-term enough to affect inflation trends.
“This is not some kind of ongoing new welfare program or something that would exacerbate inflation,” he said. While he expects most Americans would welcome the checks, he added, “I don’t think it would change the overall macroeconomic picture.”
Trump first floated the idea on Nov. 9, arguing that revenue from his tariffs could fund a $2,000 dividend for low- and middle-income households. He has since suggested that any leftover funds could go toward reducing the nation’s $38 trillion debt.
Last week, Trump said Americans could begin receiving payments as early as next year.
“We’ve taken in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariff money. We’re going to be issuing dividends probably by the middle of next year, maybe a little bit later than that,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Tariff revenue has surged since Trump implemented his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April. Collections jumped from $23.9 billion in May to $28 billion in June and $29 billion in July.
By the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30, total duty revenue had reached $215.2 billion, according to the Treasury Department’s “Customs and Certain Excise Taxes” report. The momentum has continued into fiscal year 2026, with the U.S. bringing in $40.4 billion in tariff revenue since Oct. 1.
The proposal lands at a critical moment for Trump’s trade agenda. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the legality of his tariff actions — a ruling that could shape what comes next for both the administration’s trade policy and the future of the proposed dividend checks.
