2 hours ago
Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 08:36 IST
The United States Supreme Court overturned Donald Trump's tariffs, with Neal Katyal leading the challenge, affirming Congress's authority over taxes.
Advocate Neal Katyal, who argued against Trump's tariffs in US Supreme Court (Image credit: X/@ViduraUvacha)
In a landmark judgment, the United States Supreme Court overthrew Donald Trump’s tariffs, ruling that the President overstepped his legal authority by imposing broad levies without clear approval from Congress.
Neal Katyal, a former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, was the face behind the historic judgment.
He argued against Trump’s use of the 1977 Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose what he termed “unjust, unconstitutional taxes" on goods from nearly every trading partner.
“Today, the United States Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law, and Americans everywhere. Its message was simple: Presidents are powerful, but our Constitution is more powerful still. In America, only Congress can impose taxes on the American people", Katyal said after the ruling.
Describing the SC ruling as a constitutional milestone, he said, “The US Supreme Court gave us everything we asked for in our legal case. Everything".
“This case has always been about the presidency, not any one president. It has always been about the separation of powers, and not the politics of the moment. I’m gratified to see our Supreme Court, which has been the bedrock of our government for 250 years, protect our most fundamental values".
WHO IS NEAL KATYAL?
Born to Indian immigrant parents — a doctor and an engineer — Katyal graduated from Dartmouth College and Yale Law School and clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the US Supreme Court, according to an NDTV report.
He was named Acting Solicitor General by President Barack Obama in 2010. So far, he has argued more than 50 cases before the Supreme Court, smashing records for minority advocates.
Katyal’s past cases involve defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as challenging Trump’s 2017 travel ban.
Author of the book “Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump", Katyal specialises in constitutional and complex appellate litigation.
A recipient of the US Justice Department’s highest civilian honour — the Edmund Randolph Award — he was named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer in 2017 and 2023.
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
February 21, 2026, 08:36 IST
News world Who Is Neal Katyal? Indian-American Lawyer Who Challenged Trump's Tariffs In US Supreme Court
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