A bipartisan coalition of senators, spearheaded by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), has introduced legislation aimed at reversing President Trump’s decision to relax sanctions on Russian oil. The move comes amid a global oil supply crunch and escalating tensions in the Middle East, with critics arguing the policy shift effectively bankrolls Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The No Oil Profits for Enemies (NOPE) Act would amend existing sanctions law to require congressional review before any administration eases penalties on Russian energy exports. The bill directly challenges Treasury Department licenses issued this month that allow tankers carrying Russian crude to deliver shipments without facing U.S. penalties.
“By easing sanctions on Russia, Donald Trump is bankrolling Putin’s war in Ukraine and helping Iran target American troops in the Middle East,” Gallego said in a statement. “This is a betrayal of our servicemembers, our allies, democracy, and everything we have stood for as a country.”
The Trump administration justified the sanctions relief as a necessary step to boost global oil supplies after Iran threatened to strike cargo vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s petroleum moves. The administration’s decision, however, has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers from both parties warning it undermines U.S. leverage over Moscow.
Grassley emphasized the need for accountability. “Putin’s unprovoked, violent invasion of Ukraine is the largest land war in Europe since World War II,” he said. “As the United States works to promote peace and end the bloodshed, it’s important that any effort to ease sanctions on Putin and his cronies be reviewed by Congress to ensure accountability.”
The NOPE Act would strengthen the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a law enacted during Trump’s first term that mandates a 30-day congressional review period before the president can alter Russia policy. However, CAATSA’s current framework covers only sanctions in place at the time of its 2017 passage, leaving out penalties imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The new bill would extend CAATSA’s review requirements to all sanctions issued under executive orders addressing the national emergency Trump extended in April 2025. It would specifically classify any licensing action affecting Russian oil exports as a “significant alteration of U.S. foreign policy,” triggering mandatory congressional oversight.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Armed Services Committee, have signed on as co-sponsors. “Lifting sanctions on Russia should require approval by Congress, so elected representatives can stop a misguided president from fueling Putin’s savage war machine,” Blumenthal argued.
Wicker, a frequent critic of Moscow, called Putin “an indicted war criminal” who “should be held accountable” for the destruction and loss of life in Ukraine. “Easing sanctions on Russia would only prolong its unprovoked, illegal assault,” Wicker added. “Congress must help ensure that Putin feels the consequences of his actions.”
The legislation arrives as part of a broader congressional push to reassert authority over foreign policy, particularly in areas where the White House has acted unilaterally. Recent moves, such as the administration’s extension of the Jones Act waiver to ease gas prices amid the Iran conflict, have fueled concerns that economic pressures are being prioritized over geopolitical stability. Meanwhile, the shadow war between Ukraine and Russia in the Middle East continues to complicate diplomatic efforts.
The NOPE Act’s sponsors are also mindful of the political landscape ahead of the midterms, as Trump’s economic approval ratings slide amid rising inflation and hiring concerns. By tightening oversight on Russia sanctions, the senators aim to draw a clear line between national security interests and domestic economic pressures.
