Trump Waives Sanctions on Russia, Undercutting Congressional Mandate

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving new sanctions and tariffs on Russia required under a law named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The order, signed just two days before the provisions were set to take effect, effectively neutralizes the law by lifting requirements that barred the president from removing sanctions against Russia and preventing new penalties from taking effect.

While the order does not lift sanctions currently imposed against Russia, it grants the administration broader discretion to determine future sanctions policies without being bound by the law's mandates. The waived sanctions and tariffs were scheduled to take effect on October 18. The action grants the administration significantly more latitude moving forward to select which sanctions to maintain without adhering to the law's stipulations.