Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025 on Monday, a bill that would send direct rebate checks to American households — similar to the stimulus payments distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the proposal, families would receive at least $600 per adult and dependent child, totaling $2,400 for a family of four. If tariff revenues exceed expectations, the rebate amount could increase further.
However, the benefit would gradually phase out for higher-income households. Joint filers with an adjusted gross income above $150,000 and single filers earning over $75,000 would see a 5% reduction in their rebate amount.
The bill follows remarks from former President Donald Trump last week, who said his administration was “thinking about a little rebate” using tariff revenues.
Still, it remains unclear whether the proposal has broad Republican support, especially among fiscal conservatives wary of new spending.
Earlier this year, Trump and Elon Musk floated the idea of a $5,000 “dividend check” for Americans, funded by government savings. That plan, however, has not materialized.
The latest proposal comes as the U.S. Treasury Department reported a surprise budget surplus for June, with tariff revenues jumping significantly.
Customs duties reached $27 billion for the month, up from $23 billion in May — a 301% increase compared to June 2024.
