Washington, D.C. — FDD Action urges the administration to reverse its October 16 executive order (EO) waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (P.L. 119-111). The EO was issued two days before the law’s provisions were set to take effect on October 18. FDD Action has supported this legislation since its introduction by the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and recently commended its bipartisan passage.
Republicans, Democrats, and the White House negotiated the Graham Act in good faith, providing the United States with powerful tools to raise the costs for Russia to continue its war against Ukraine. But this EO blocks the law’s most effective measures, including sanctions and tariff authorities to target the top countries that import Russian energy and facilitate sanctions evasion.
“By waiving the Graham Act’s sanctions, the administration risks handing Russia a financial lifeline as it wages its war against Ukraine. Congress acted to strengthen U.S. leverage, but this executive order would leave critical sanctions indefinitely suspended,” said Daniel Vaynshteyn, Associate Director for Government Relations at FDD Action. “The administration should immediately reverse course and rescind the waiver, while fully deploying the Graham Act’s tools to impose real costs on Russia and its enablers.”
FDD Action urges Congress to press the administration to provide a full policy justification for the national-interest waiver, beyond the certification and report it submitted to comply with the law. Congress should also scrutinize the waiver and use all available legislative and oversight authorities to restore pressure on Moscow.
More than four years into the largest land war in Europe since World War II, Putin continues to attack Ukraine’s sovereignty, infrastructure, and population. This includes the abduction and forced transfer of over 20,500 Ukrainian children. These attacks persist because the Kremlin has faced too few economic consequences to change course.
By waiving tariffs on Russian goods and the largest purchasers of Russian energy, the EO weakens efforts to cut off the oil revenue fueling Putin’s war machine. It also eases pressure on the most egregious violators and jurisdictions that facilitate sanctions evasion for Moscow. This relief will help Russia finance its coming winter offensive against Ukrainian cities and civilians.
The impact further extends to Iran. Moscow and Tehran collaborate closely in military and economic areas, including drone production and sanctions evasion. With U.S. forces engaged against Iran, easing restrictions on Russia risks strengthening networks that benefit both regimes.
On October 16, the President invoked the national-interest waiver provided for in Sec. 115 of the Graham Act. This waiver suspends the law’s new tariffs on Russian goods, the top countries that import Russian crude oil and natural gas, and the top countries facilitating Russian sanctions evasion. The waiver also extends to all other sanctions, restrictions, and duties outlined in the law.
Under the Graham Act, the President is only permitted to terminate the application of the law’s sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs against Russia if it reaches and maintains a peace agreement with Ukraine, subject to congressional review. But the waiver bypasses the peace process that the law seeks to set in motion, leaving the sanctions suspended with no peace agreement in sight.
This concession comes after the Treasury Department issued a general license last week that allows Russia to supply diesel to the United States. Under this license, Russia is expected to deliver 300,000 tons immediately, 500,000 tons in November, and one million tons thereafter.
FDD Action is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that works directly with policymakers to advocate for a robust U.S. foreign policy — one that strengthens U.S. national security, does damage to America’s adversaries, and supports allies and partners. FDD Action serves as a trusted resource for congressional offices and executive branch policymakers navigating complex national security challenges, leveraging a team with decades of experience on Capitol Hill and in the policy arena.