Ted Cruz asks Treasury to approve $200 billion tax cut without Congress (Jeff Stein/Washington Post)

Senators Ted Cruz and Tim Scott have asked the Treasury to approve a $200 billion tax cut without congressional action, pressing for a major unilateral change in tax policy ahead of the 2026 midterms. The request would rely on executive-branch authority to deliver sizable fiscal relief without legislation, a move that could provoke legal challenges and political backlash. It also increases pressure on the Treasury as it handles other high-stakes fiscal decisions, including how to manage refunds and alternatives for Trump-era tariffs.