By Illinois Review
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is once again turning his attention toward Washington and President Donald Trump, this time demanding that Congress redirect $1 billion earmarked for White House security upgrades into a federal “tariff relief fund.”
During remarks this week, Pritzker sharply criticized Trump and congressional Republicans over tariffs, arguing that American families and small businesses are struggling under increased costs tied to trade policy.
“Republicans are physically incapable of telling Trump ‘No,’” Pritzker said while calling for the entire $1 billion allocation to be redirected toward economic relief efforts.
But critics say the governor should focus less on national politics and more on the growing economic and population problems inside Illinois – many of which have worsened during his time in office.
Since Pritzker took office in 2019, Illinois has continued to experience significant domestic outmigration, with tens of thousands of residents leaving the state each year for lower-tax states such as Florida, Texas and Indiana.
According to IRS migration data and independent analyses from various think tank groups, Illinois lost nearly 56,000 residents and roughly $6 billion in adjusted gross income in 2023 alone.
Multi-year trends show cumulative population losses approaching half a million residents since Pritzker became governor. Those leaving include working families, retirees, and business owners frustrated by Illinois’ high taxes and rising cost of living.
Illinois residents currently face some of the highest property taxes in the country, along with repeated gas tax increases that automatically rise each year.
Critics also point to growing regulatory burdens, public pension liabilities, and long-term fiscal instability that continue to weigh heavily on taxpayers.
The business climate has also deteriorated.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show Illinois has lost thousands of businesses to other states over the past several decades, with the pace accelerating following the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Pritzker’s administration, Illinois has seen approximately 1,000 net business departures, including major corporate exits involving companies like Boeing, Caterpillar, and Citadel.
In 2023, Illinois reportedly ranked behind only California and New York in company relocations, with 218 businesses leaving the state.
Job growth has also lagged behind much of the country. Since 2019, Illinois has added only modest net job growth compared to faster-growing states across the South and Midwest.
And polling consistently shows many Illinois residents would leave the state if given the opportunity, reflecting growing frustration over taxes, crime, and affordability concerns.
Critics argue that while Pritzker focuses on national political battles and positioning himself as a leading Democrat on the national stage, Illinois families continue struggling with problems much closer to home.
As the governor demands federal “relief” from Trump-era tariffs, many Illinois taxpayers appear to be seeking relief of their own – by leaving Illinois altogether.
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