A bipartisan group of senators urged President Trump on Oct. 11 to “immediately reverse course” on his decision to allow Russian diesel imports, saying the administration’s move appears to violate the 2022 ban on Russian energy, according to statements reported by Reuters and Politico.
The senators—four Republicans and three Democrats—told the White House it failed to consult Congress or justify the decision as required by statute, and they warned the import plan would hand Moscow a financial lifeline while Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
The Reuters report named Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis and John Curtis and Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal and Ron Wyden as signatories of the joint statement.
Sen. Thom Tillis told NBC’s Meet the Press that the diesel deal “may be illegal” and risked American lives, while the Treasury defended the pact as lawful and said the administration would proceed using its existing authorities, Reuters reported.
Politico and Reuters say the Treasury issued a general license after Trump announced that Russia would supply diesel to U.S. and global markets; Politico reports the license allows imports into the U.S. through April 2027.
Energy analysts quoted by Reuters cautioned that the agreement was unlikely to produce sustained lower fuel prices, while the timing — days before key congressional elections — has heightened political scrutiny, Politico reported.
Critics say the move conflicts with the 2022 law intended to stop U.S. money from financing Russian military operations, and they urged the administration to provide the legal rationale Congress requires before proceeding.
Why it matters: diesel is central to agriculture, trucking and home heating, and high fuel costs are politically sensitive ahead of elections; readers can find background on price drivers in our linked explainer on diesel supply and costs.
The story is developing as lawmakers consider legislative and oversight options, and some Republicans have publicly questioned the policy while others defend the administration’s effort to lower consumer fuel prices.
Sources
- Reuters — reported the senators’ statement, Tillis’s comments and that the administration issued a general license to allow Russian diesel imports.
- POLITICO — named the seven senators, said the license allows imports through April 2027, and reported the senators’ call to reverse course.
