Two leading Senate Democrats are pressing the Trump administration to allow a key sanctions waiver on Russian oil to lapse, warning that extending it would continue to bankroll Vladimir Putin’s war machine while doing little to ease costs for American families.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter Friday to the Treasury Department urging officials not to renew General License 134B, a waiver that permits certain transactions involving Russian oil. The license is set to expire just after midnight Saturday.
“Tonight, when the current license for Russian oil expires, it should not be renewed,” the senators wrote, according to a copy of the letter. Shaheen is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Warren holds the same position on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
The pair accused the administration of maintaining an “ill-conceived policy of helping Russia make even more money from President Trump’s reckless war in Iran.” They argued that with the average price of gasoline above $4.50 a gallon, there is no evidence the waiver is lowering costs for Americans. “Meanwhile, Trump is lining Putin’s coffers at the same time that Russia has offered Iran assistance in targeting and killing American service members,” the letter states.
The Democratic senators also charged that the administration has failed to explain how the waiver serves U.S. interests, suggesting it reflects an “incoherent policy toward Russia” that “is only enabling a bloodthirsty dictator to continue his war of aggression.”
The Treasury Department extended the waiver for 30 days last month, pushing the expiration to May 16. At the time, a source familiar with the decision told The Hill that partner nations had requested the extension due to ongoing pressures in Asia. India, a major buyer of discounted Russian crude, has privately called on Washington to keep the waiver in place, according to people familiar with the matter.
The development comes as the Trump administration is engaged in negotiations with Iran to end the conflict and eventually lower oil prices. Earlier this month, Warren was among 14 senators who urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to reimpose the temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil to offset rising energy costs tied to the war in Iran. They voiced concern that the pause could aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. “Continuing to pause these sanctions is a mistake that President Trump must reverse immediately,” the lawmakers wrote.
Bipartisan momentum for tightening sanctions on Russia is also building on Capitol Hill. Senators Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, and Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, recently introduced legislation to strengthen sanctions law and restore congressional oversight over measures targeting Russia.
The Hill has contacted the Treasury Department for comment on the senators’ latest request. The waiver’s fate remains uncertain as the administration weighs diplomatic and economic priorities.
