Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D) is accusing President Donald Trump of violating a federal law banning Russian energy imports after the Treasury Department authorized Russian-origin diesel imports through April 7, 2027. The dispute has drawn bipartisan criticism from senators who argue the administration bypassed legal requirements for lifting the ban.
What did the Trump administration authorize?
On Oct. 9, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135, authorizing transactions involving the sale, delivery, offloading, and importation of Russian-origin diesel into the United States through April 7, 2027. The authorization followed discussions between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Doggett, a Texas Democrat whose name is on the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, said the authorization conflicts with the law's restrictions on Russian energy imports.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett: "In 2022, my name was on the first law banning Russian fossil fuel imports to deny Putin funding for his brutal invasion of Ukraine."
Rep. Doggett continued: "Now Trump is directly violating that law, lifting sanctions to permit the first Russian diesel imports into the United States since the law took effect, without satisfying the legal conditions it requires."
What does federal law require?
Signed into law on April 8, 2022, Public Law 117-109 prohibits imports of Russian products classified under Chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The law allows the President to terminate the prohibition only after certifying that Russia has met specified conditions, including agreeing to withdraw its forces and end hostilities under an agreement accepted by Ukraine.
The statute also requires advance consultation with four congressional committees and submission of a report at least 45 days before certification. Any termination takes effect after 90 days unless Congress enacts a resolution of disapproval.
Doggett argues the administration has not met these requirements.
