Energy Secretary Wright breaks with Trump on diesel export ban

TL;DR: Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sept. 23, 2026 that a U.S. ban on diesel exports "would not work" and could push up gasoline and jet fuel prices, publicly breaking with President Trump, who had endorsed the idea. Wright told the Wall Street Journal the administration is weighing restrictions instead of an outright ban as diesel hit record highs.

Key takeaway

Energy Secretary Chris Wright rejected a full diesel export ban, saying it "would not work" and could raise gasoline and jet fuel prices.

What happened

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said a U.S. diesel export ban "would not work" and could push up gasoline and jet fuel prices, breaking publicly with President Trump, who endorsed the idea on Sept. 22, 2026. Wright told the Wall Street Journal the administration is considering targeted restrictions rather than an outright ban.

The split surfaced as diesel prices reached record levels. Iowa diesel hit $6.57 per gallon and the national average reached $6.32 per gallon as of mid-September 2026, according to Radio Iowa. The U.S. exported 1.6 million barrels of diesel during the week of Sept. 11, 2026, per POLITICO.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Trump is examining the proposal. Farm-state Republicans are pushing hardest for action, arguing record fuel costs are squeezing farmers and truckers ahead of the November midterms. Sen. Chuck Grassley and both Iowa Senate candidates, Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek, have called for suspending diesel exports.

The dispute pits agriculture-state lawmakers seeking lower fuel costs against the oil industry, which opposes export restrictions. Wright's public comments mark an unusual open disagreement within the administration on a farm-input issue with direct relevance to the broader debate over farm economics and the Farm Bill 2.0 markup covered in our full bill summary.

What it means

Diesel is one of the largest single input costs for row-crop and specialty farmers and for long-haul trucking. Record prices near or above $6 per gallon raise the cost of planting, harvesting, and moving grain, and they arrive as producers already face tight margins that shape the funding fights detailed in our funding breakdown.

The policy choices on the table differ in scope:

• Full export ban: Trump endorsed a temporary ban. Supporters, including farm-state lawmakers, say it would keep more diesel in the domestic market and lower prices at the pump.
• Targeted restrictions: Wright's preferred approach. He argues a full ban "would not work" and warns it could raise gasoline and jet fuel prices by disrupting refinery economics and fuel flows.

For farmers and truckers, the near-term takeaway is that no ban is in place yet, and the administration is divided on whether one would even help. The outcome will land on the same producers watching input-cost and safety-net provisions tracked in our what's new vs. 2018 comparison.

What's next

As of Sept. 24, 2026, the administration has not adopted a formal policy. Wright indicated the White House is weighing restrictions rather than a full ban, so any action is likely to be narrower than the temporary embargo Trump described.

Congressional pressure is expected to continue, with Grassley leading a bipartisan Iowa push and both Iowa Senate candidates backing a suspension of exports. That pressure is likely to intensify as the November midterms approach and diesel prices remain elevated. Readers following the legislative calendar can track related developments on our timeline and status page.

Any move on diesel exports would come through executive action rather than the Farm Bill itself, but it directly affects the farm-economy backdrop against which H.R. 7567 is being debated. We will update this post if the administration announces a specific restriction or ban.

Frequently asked questions

Did the Energy Secretary support Trump's diesel export ban?

No. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sept. 23, 2026 that a U.S. diesel export ban "would not work" and could raise gasoline and jet fuel prices. This put him publicly at odds with President Trump, who had endorsed a temporary ban the day before. Wright told the Wall Street Journal the administration is considering targeted restrictions rather than an outright ban.

How high are diesel prices right now?

Iowa diesel hit a record $6.57 per gallon, and the national average reached $6.32 per gallon as of mid-September 2026, according to Radio Iowa. These record highs are the main reason farm-state Republicans are demanding action. Diesel is a major cost for farmers and truckers, so high prices raise the cost of planting, harvesting, and hauling grain.

Why do farm-state lawmakers want a diesel export ban?

Farm-state lawmakers want a diesel export ban to keep more fuel in the U.S. market and lower prices for farmers and truckers hit by record diesel costs. The U.S. exported 1.6 million barrels of diesel during the week of Sept. 11, 2026. Sen. Chuck Grassley and both Iowa Senate candidates, Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek, have called for suspending exports.

Who opposes the diesel export ban?

The oil industry opposes export restrictions, setting up a fight against agriculture-state lawmakers who want lower fuel costs. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also opposes a full ban, saying it "would not work" and could push gasoline and jet fuel prices higher. Wright favors targeted restrictions instead of a blanket export ban.

Is a diesel export ban part of the Farm Bill 2.0?

No. A diesel export ban would come through executive action, not through H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. However, record diesel prices shape the farm-economy backdrop against which the Farm Bill is being debated, since fuel is one of the largest input costs for farmers and ranchers.

Has the administration made a decision on diesel exports?

No. As of Sept. 24, 2026, the administration has not adopted a formal policy. President Trump endorsed a temporary ban, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump is examining the proposal, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration is weighing targeted restrictions rather than an outright ban. No ban is currently in place.

Sources

• Reuters , Energy Secretary Wright rejects diesel export ban, dated 2026-09-23.
• Axios , Trump backs diesel export ban to ease record fuel costs, dated 2026-09-22.
• Radio Iowa , Iowa lawmakers call for suspending diesel exports as prices hit $6.57/gallon, dated 2026-09-21.
• POLITICO , Big Ag and Big Oil clash over diesel export ban, dated 2026-09-21.