Source: FingerLakes1.com

Americans could soon see a fresh round of stimulus checks in 2025 if new legislation introduced by Senator Josh Hawley moves forward in Congress. The proposal, backed by former President Donald Trump, would send at least $600 per household member using surplus revenue generated by tariffs.

What’s in the proposal?

Formally titled the Tariff Return to Workers Act, the bill seeks to replicate aspects of the pandemic-era stimulus programs. It offers a refundable tax credit of $600 per adult and dependent child, with early payments via check possible before the end of 2025.

The checks would be funded using tariff profits, which have grown sharply in 2025 under Trump’s renewed trade policies.

• Phase-out thresholds would apply:
  • $75,000 for single filers
  • $112,500 for heads of household
  • $150,000 for joint filers
    Amounts would phase out by 5% beyond those thresholds.

How much money is available?

According to Treasury data, the U.S. collected $27 billion in tariffs in June 2025 alone, and $100 billion during the first half of the year. Annual projections top $300 billion, forming the theoretical foundation for the rebates.

Economists estimate tariffs could bring in $2.5 trillion over the next decade, but some experts warn they could cost the average American household $1,300 annually in higher prices.

Where do lawmakers stand?

Senator Hawley argued that Americans should directly benefit from the tariff revenue, calling the bill “a way to return the wealth generated by trade protections back to working families.” He also highlighted his bipartisan stimulus work in 2020 with Senator Bernie Sanders.

President Trump expressed support for the concept of rebate checks funded by tariffs, stating that “people at a certain income level should get something back.” However, he has not committed to specific amounts or timelines.

Previous ideas falling short

Earlier in the year, a separate proposal—nicknamed the DOGE dividend—sought to send $5,000 checks using savings from the Department of Government Efficiency. That plan, endorsed by Trump and Elon Musk, failed to gain traction after Musk left the administration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has voiced skepticism about both the DOGE plan and the current tariff-based bill, citing concerns about national debt. “The big thing we want to do is pay down debt,” Trump acknowledged in a July statement, despite supporting rebates.

Will Americans actually receive a check?

The legislative path remains uncertain. While Hawley’s bill has support from Trump and a majority in the Senate, it would still need to pass the House, where fiscal conservatives have pushed back against any new spending.

If approved, the Treasury would begin issuing the first checks before the end of 2025, according to language in the bill. Larger rebates are possible if tariff revenues exceed projections.

“This bill is about fairness,” Hawley said. “If tariffs are helping our economy, that money should go back to the American people—not get lost in bureaucracy.”

What happens next?

Congress will debate the bill later this summer. Meanwhile, President Trump’s tariff policies continue generating billions in new revenue, keeping the possibility of stimulus alive heading into the fall.