Congress Set for Clash Over Bill Expanding Trump's Power to Sanction Russia

A bill that would grant President Donald Trump broad authority to impose tariffs on Russia and countries that trade with it is set for a vote in Congress this week, setting up what is expected to be a contentious legislative fight, according to The Guardian.

The legislation was co-authored by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who the report describes as having died earlier this year. Supporters of the bill argue that expanding sanctioning power would aid Ukraine at a critical point in its war against Russia, the report said.

According to The Guardian, the bill faces pushback from multiple directions in Congress. Some Republicans who are skeptical of continued US support for Ukraine have raised objections, the report said.

At the same time, prominent Democrats have voiced concerns that the bill would grant Trump excessive tariff authority, warning that such power could later be misused, including potentially against US allies, according to the report.

The vote comes amid broader debate in Washington over the extent of executive authority on trade and sanctions policy, as lawmakers weigh the goal of supporting Ukraine against concerns about concentrating power in the presidency, The Guardian reported.

Further details on the specific provisions of the bill, the timeline for the vote, and the positions of individual lawmakers were not fully outlined in the available reporting.