President Donald Trump has suggested giving Americans $2,000 rebate checks funded by tariff revenue, but economists say that the funding source and legal authority for such payments remain unclear.

Current tariff collections fall short of what would be required to cover checks for all eligible Americans, and the amount needed would depend on how the administration defines eligibility. Experts also note that Congress would need to authorize the payments, and the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the legality of the tariffs could further complicate the proposal.

The cost will depend on who is eligible, and it’s not clear how the administration would define that, says Ryan Monarch, associate professor of economics. Any funding not covered by what tariffs have raised would likely have to come through Congressional authorization, he says.

“It’s not something the president can just wave a magic wand and disperse the money as they see fit,” Monarch says.

Read more in the Newsweek article, “Trump Tariffs May Not Have Raised Enough To Cover $2000 Payments: Experts.”