Lawmakers Argue Trump's Russia Diesel Deal 'Violates' the Law. Here's What Legal Experts Say

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S.

President Donald Trump greets at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Aug.

15, 2025. —Andrew Harnik––Getty Images President Donald Trump is facing growing backlash over his plan to import diesel from Russia , with some Republican and Democratic lawmakers insisting that the controversial deal “violates” the law.

Congress four years ago passed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act , which prohibits U.S. imports of Russian-origin energy products covered by Chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule , including diesel.

Democratic Rep.

Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the bill's chief sponsor, argued Monday that Trump is “directly violating that law” by “lifting sanctions to permit the first Russian diesel imports into the United States since the law took effect, without satisfying the specific legal conditions it requires.” He suggested the lack of congressional oversight on Trump’s deal with Putin renders it unlawful, and noted how the plan showcases a sharp turn from Washington, as it comes just weeks after Trump signed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill intended to target the country's financial institutions and the energy industry, which has largely financed the assault on Ukraine.

The sanctions bill was named after Lindsey Graham, the late Republican Senator who spent the final year of his life building support for the measure.

“Russia can [now] export fossil fuel to the U.S. after Trump violated the specific provisions of a federal statute,” Doggett said on Tuesday in a statement to TIME.

“While offering little benefit for Americans, this unlawful action will provide substantial new funding for Putin‘s war machine to continue murdering Ukrainian civilians.” Doggett’s concerns match those of Republican Sen.

Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who told NBC’s Meet the Press over the weekend that he believes “there’s a legitimate case for saying the President’s not following the law.” Tillis was one of seven Senators who publicly urged the Administration on Sunday to “immediately reverse course” on the agreement announced Friday, arguing that it goes against the 2022 law.

“Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine,” read the statement co-signed by Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah, alongside Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

“President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law.