Nebraska officials weigh in on tariff ruling

Nebraska officials weighed in Friday on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling that voids many of the tariffs President Donald Trump has levied on other countries.

Three conservative justices – Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett – joined with the three liberal justices in ruling that the president’s expansive use of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is unconstitutional.

Second District Rep. Don Bacon, a frequent Republican critic of Trump, cheered the ruling.

““The Constitution’s checks and balances still work. Article One gives tariff authority to Congress,” Bacon said in an emailed statement.

“This was a common-sense and straightforward ruling by the Supreme Court. I feel vindicated as I’ve been saying this for the last 12 months,” Bacon said.

Nebraska's two other House members were a bit more circumspect in their assessments.

Third District Rep. Adrian Smith did not directly comment on the court’s decision, but said in a social media post the ruling means Congress has to step up to make sure trade deals are enforced.

“Since day one, President Trump has been committed to leveling the playing field for American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and workers. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, we must ensure our trading partners uphold the market access commitments already secured and continue advancing policies which promote fair competition worldwide,” Smith said in a post on X.

“As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade for the House Ways and Means Committee, I am committed to working with the administration to deliver long-term certainty through comprehensive and enforceable trade agreements,” the post said. “The President has made clear his intention to use every available tool to secure strong deals, but only Congress can ensure that these agreements provide lasting stability beyond any single administration.”

Mike Flood, who represents the 1st District, also did not weigh in on the merits of the ruling.

"While we all pause to understand the full implications of the Supreme Court’s decision, we must respect the rule of law," Flood said in a post on X. "I am confident that President Trump and Congressional Republicans can continue advancing our historic efforts to build a resilient domestic economy that benefits hardworking Nebraskans in light of this ruling. I trust that President Trump and Congress will use every lawful tool available to keep growing our economy and ensure American goods compete on a level playing field abroad."

Nebraska has seen a number of effects from the tariffs. Though overall agricultural exports from the state were up in the first half of 2025, largely on the strength of livestock exports, soybean exports were down 15%, according to the group Farmers for Free Trade.

And the December Mid-America Business Conditions Index, produced by Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss, found that Nebraska’s manufacturing exports for the first nine months of 2025 declined by about $700 million, or 12.6%, compared with the same period in 2024.

Nebraska’s net farm income in 2025 was expected to increase more than 40% over 2024, due largely due largely to a projected $2 billion in government payments to make up for losses related to tariffs. It’s unclear what, if any, effect Friday’s Supreme Court ruling might have on the amount of those payments.