The American kitchen table is under assault from a new kind of corporate greed. Following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that struck down unlawful tariffs, a massive pile of $180 billion in tax revenue is being returned to the coffers of major retailers. But instead of passing these savings back to the families who paid the price at the checkout counter, some corporations appear ready to pocket the windfall for themselves. This is a moral failure of the highest order.

In Illinois, a brave citizen named Matthew Stockov has filed a lawsuit against Costco, alleging that the big-box giant intends to engage in a double recovery. The logic is simple and damning: retailers raised prices on milk, electronics, and household goods when the tariffs were imposed, forcing families to tighten their belts. Now that the government is admitting the taxes were illegal, those same companies are lining up for refunds. If that money stays in corporate boardrooms instead of returning to the pockets of fathers and mothers, it is nothing short of institutional theft.

Public trust in our economic system relies on the principle of fair dealing. When a family pays a premium because of a government error, they should be the first in line for restitution. Some companies, including Costco, have signaled they may pass these refunds to members, but the legal pressure must remain absolute. Our leaders must ensure that the $180 billion does not become a slush fund for wealthy executives while the middle class continues to struggle with the rising cost of living.

We must remember that the purpose of trade policy should be to strengthen the domestic worker and the traditional home. If the result of these legal battles is merely to enrich a few international conglomerates at the expense of the common man, then the law has been hollowed out. Decency demands that these corporations do the right thing before the courts force their hand. The American family has paid its dues; it is time for Big Business to pay them back.