Jeanne Shaheen urges Trump to activate sanctions on Russian oil as Congress moves to close loopholes

Senator Jeanne Shaheen wants the White House to stop giving Russia’s energy sector a free pass. The New Hampshire Democrat has been pressuring President Trump to use his existing sanctions authorities against Russian oil and gas, arguing that current policy amounts to a financial lifeline for the Kremlin while it wages war in Ukraine.

At the center of the dispute is Treasury General License 134, a sanctions waiver that critics say has allowed Russia to continue earning massive revenue from energy exports. Shaheen, alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren, has argued the license enabled Russia to collect roughly $150 million per day at its peak, a figure that adds up to over $4 billion cumulatively.

The money pipeline

To understand why this matters, consider the math. Russia derives more than 50% of its total national revenue from oil and gas sales. That makes energy exports the single most important financial artery keeping the Russian state funded and its military operational.

Shaheen’s push isn’t happening in a vacuum. It reflects a broader congressional frustration with what lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see as an insufficiently aggressive approach to economic pressure on Russia. The senator has been vocal about the need for the executive branch to deploy the tools Congress has already provided, rather than waiting for new legislation to force the issue.

Congress takes matters into its own hands

While Shaheen pushes the White House to act on existing authorities, Congress has been building its own legislative response. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 represents the most significant bipartisan effort to date to close the loopholes in America’s sanctions regime.

The bill does three major things. First, it imposes both primary and secondary sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, meaning not just Russian entities but any foreign company that facilitates Russian energy trade could face penalties. Second, it authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil, a provision aimed squarely at China and India. Third, it targets the networks and intermediaries that have helped Russia circumvent existing restrictions.

The bipartisan support for the legislation was overwhelming. The Senate passed it with an 86-11 vote, and the House followed with a 262-159 tally.

The legislation was then presented to President Trump for final approval, setting up a direct confrontation between congressional intent and executive discretion on Russia policy.

Global energy market implications

If fully implemented, these sanctions could meaningfully reshape global energy flows. China and India have been the primary beneficiaries of discounted Russian crude since Western sanctions first went into effect. Both countries have dramatically increased their purchases of Russian oil, often at prices well below international benchmarks, effectively subsidizing their own economies while funding Moscow’s war effort.

Tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the top five buyers of Russian oil would force these countries to make uncomfortable choices. Either absorb enormous cost increases on Russian crude or pivot toward alternative suppliers, likely from the Middle East, Africa, or the Americas.

For Shaheen, the argument is straightforward. The US already has tools to squeeze Russia’s energy revenue. Using them is a matter of political will, not legal authority.