The United States government has refunded $81 billion in tariff revenues this fiscal year after the Supreme Court struck down a significant portion of the import duties introduced under President Donald Trump, according to newly released budget figures. The refunds — up sharply from just $5 billion during the same period last year — were triggered by a February Supreme Court ruling that rendered a large tranche of Trump's tariffs unlawful, with most payments returning to businesses in May and June. The reversal is weighing on public finances: the federal deficit reached $1.367 trillion in the first nine months of the fiscal year, a 2% increase, undermining Trump's earlier claim that tariffs would help close the budget gap.