Indian-origin American lawyer Neal Katyal has come into global focus following a recent legal challenge in the Supreme Court of the United States against tariff policies imposed by President Donald Trump.
Katyal secured a ruling in the Supreme Court against the broad tariffs imposed by Trump. Appearing before the court, Katyal, who previously served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States, argued that the President’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose tariffs in an arbitrary manner was improper and unconstitutional. He contended that such use of emergency powers exceeded constitutional limits and affected the balance of powers.
The dispute concerned tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The Trump administration had cited national emergency powers to levy broad tariffs on certain countries. Katyal argued before the Supreme Court that using this law to impose taxes or tariffs in an arbitrary manner was unconstitutional because, under the United States Constitution, the authority to levy taxes rests solely with Congress and not with the President.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized constitutional principles and the doctrine of Separation of Powers. The court stated that while the President holds significant authority, the Constitution is supreme and legislative powers cannot be encroached upon.
Following the decision, Katyal said the Supreme Court had stood for the rule of law and the American people, sending a clear message that the Constitution is more powerful than the President. He stated that only Congress has the authority to impose taxes on the public. Katyal also said the case was not against any one President but concerned the constitutional limits of the presidency. He described the outcome as a victory for institutional balance in American democracy.
Katyal was born in the United States to Indian immigrant parents and is a constitutional lawyer. He previously served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States after being appointed to the position in 2010 by then President Barack Obama. In that role, he represented the federal government before the Supreme Court and various appellate courts. He has argued more than 50 cases before the Supreme Court.
He is currently a partner at the Washington-based law firm Milbank LLP. His practice includes patent, securities, criminal, employment and constitutional law matters. In 2011, he was awarded the Edmund Randolph Award, the highest civilian honor of the United States Department of Justice, in recognition of outstanding legal service and contributions to the protection of constitutional values.
