President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order pausing enforcement of a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia, two days before the law’s deadline for implementation. The move effectively neutralizes the Lindsey Graham Act, a law passed last month that sought to impose sweeping new penalties on Russia’s financial and energy sectors.
Core Actions and Timing
Trump’s executive order waives provisions of the law that required new sanctions and tariffs against Russia to take effect by October 18. The order does not lift existing sanctions but grants the administration broader discretion to determine which penalties to maintain without being bound by the law’s requirements. The legislation, named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, had aimed to restrict financial flows fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine and directed Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with limited exceptions.
Background and Legislative Context
The Graham Act passed Congress with bipartisan support in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It included provisions to sanction Russian officials, banks, and a shadow fleet of tankers transporting Russian energy. The law also barred the president from removing sanctions without congressional notification. Trump signed the legislation into law last month before reversing course two days before the enforcement deadline.
Political and Policy Implications
The decision comes amid rising energy prices and follows Trump’s announcement last week that the U.S. would purchase diesel from Russia to lower global fuel costs, a move critics argue could undermine Ukraine’s war effort. Polling from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, published October 1, indicated that a majority of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Ukraine conflict and blamed him for higher prices. The president’s approval ratings have declined as Republicans face competitive midterm elections on November 3.
The executive order does not immediately lift existing sanctions but allows the administration to selectively enforce or waive new penalties under the Graham Act. The move has drawn attention to the administration’s evolving approach to Russia policy amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.