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Liberation Day 2.0: Rebuilding the Tariff Agenda Without IEEPA
On February 20th, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by President Trump, in the landmark case, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026) (hereinafter Learning Resources). In a 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice Roberts, the court held that IEEPA did not authorize the tariffs in question, dismissing the Trump Administration’s argument that the language to “regulate importation” encompassed tariffs.
Project Vault: Locking in America’s Strategic Supply
On February 2, 2026, President Trump, along with Chairman of the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) John Jovanovic, announced a new initiative to move U.S. critical mineral supply chains away from reliance on China. Project Vault establishes the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve intended to store critical minerals essential to America’s defense and industrial supply chains in facilities across the United States.
AFPI Responds to SCOTUS Ruling in Learning Resources v. Trump
Decision does not weaken case for strong America First trade policy.
Preserving Liberation Day Successes
The United States faces urgent economic and national security emergencies from ballooning trade deficits and the influx of fentanyl. The U.S. has run trade deficits for 50 consecutive years, a streak unparalleled in American history, reaching a record high goods deficit of $1.2 trillion in 2024. These consistent and widening trade deficits reflect an erosion of American global shares in key industries such as semiconductors and steel, eviscerating its manufacturing base at the expense of America’s most powerful geopolitical adversary, China.
Request for Public Comments Regarding Prohibition on Use of Reputation Risk by Regulators
America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is pleased to submit its comments on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) and Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), collectively referred to here as “the agencies,” proposed rule that would prohibit the use of reputation risk from their supervisory programs. AFPI supports the agencies proposed rule as it will ensure that regulators are prohibited from pressuring financial institutions to deny or terminate banking privileges for political, religious, or other non-pecuniary reasons. Accordingly, removing reputation risk will strengthen the safety and soundness of the financial system by protecting financial institutions and their customers from regulatory overreach.