5 GOP House members join letter urging Trump to cancel Russia diesel deal, up sanctions

Five House Republicans signed on to a letter Thursday urging President Trump to cancel the Russian diesel deal he announced last week.

GOP Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Michael McCaul (Texas), Dan Newhouse (Wash.) and Joe Wilson (S.C.) joined 17 of their Democratic colleagues in writing they were “particularly concerned” about the deal.

Trump said Russia agreed to “immediately” supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the global marketplace, with another 500,000 tons on the way in November. 

Under the agreement, Russia would supply another 4 million tons after November if its refineries are capable of doing so amid attacks by Ukraine, the president added. 

In conjunction with Trump’s announcement, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a waiver authorizing Russian producers to import diesel fuel into the U.S. The waiver is effective through April 6, 2027. 

The bipartisan group of lawmakers pressed Trump to reconsider and copied Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the letter. 

“We urge the Administration to revoke this license and not issue further general licenses that reopen Russian energy transactions and restore revenue to the Kremlin’s war chest,” they wrote.

The lawmakers also asked Trump to explain how he can “reconcile” the Treasury Department’s license with an existing ban on Russian energy imports to the U.S. 

A spokesperson for the Treasury Department referred The Hill to the department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence writing on social platform X last week that the license “is consistent with similar actions previously taken” by the OFAC and “is in compliance with all applicable laws.”

The Hill has also reached out to the White House and State Department for comment. 

McCaul, the former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that he understands Trump’s “desire to bring down diesel prices,” which remain above $6 per gallon amid the Iran war.

But the outgoing lawmaker added he was “concerned” the diesel deal “will only fuel the Kremlin’s violence and destruction,” noting Russian forces have attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure sites this week — after Trump said the two sides agreed to an “energy ceasefire.”

In the letter, the Republicans also encouraged the president to forcefully apply legislation aimed at boosting sanctions on Russia.

The law, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), passed the Senate and House with strong bipartisan majorities in September. 

“Designations should reach the officials, oligarchs, banks, and state enterprises directing and financing the war, as well as the foreign banks, shadow fleet operators, and intermediaries that help Russia evade restrictions,” the lawmakers wrote three days before a deadline for Trump to set secondary tariffs on countries that import Russian products and designate Russian entities for sanctions. 

“We stand ready to work with your Administration to ensure this law achieves the purpose for which Congress enacted it,” the letter concluded.