The White House is weighing a 90-day restriction on US diesel exports as fuel prices remain sharply higher than a year ago, but officials have not signed or finalized any ban. The administration is also considering asking refiners to voluntarily reduce diesel shipments overseas instead of imposing a legally binding cutoff.

President Donald Trump was still describing an export restriction as a serious option as of September 28, 2026. The proposals are intended to ease pressure on US pump prices ahead of the midterm elections, although the legal structure and timing remain unresolved.

Diesel prices remain elevated

According to the Energy Information Administration, the national average diesel price reached $6.382 a gallon for the week of September 28. That marked a modest decline from $6.529 the previous week, but the price was still approximately $2.61 higher than the same week a year earlier.

Prices vary significantly by region. West Coast diesel averaged $7.357 a gallon, compared with roughly $5.96 on the Gulf Coast and approximately $6.14 on the East Coast. Those differences are particularly important for trucking companies, delivery operators and other fleets moving goods across the country.

Export ban versus voluntary refinery cuts

Administration officials have discussed two broad approaches. The first would restrict diesel exports for 90 days, while the second would rely on major US refiners to voluntarily limit shipments abroad. A Reuters report said officials were promoting the voluntary option as a fallback that could avoid a full legal ban.

Some administration officials reportedly believe an export restriction by itself would have only a limited effect on pump prices. Fuel producers have also opposed a mandatory measure, warning that it could disrupt domestic supply chains and potentially push prices higher later.

What the proposal means for diesel buyers

No timeline has been established, and neither the export ban nor the voluntary reduction plan represents current policy. The proposed restriction would be the first curb on US energy exports since the crude oil export ban was lifted in 2015.

Small-business owners and light-commercial fleet operators therefore have no immediate policy change to factor into fuel budgets. Diesel prices remain vulnerable to international disruptions, including the conflict involving Iran and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Those pressures could continue affecting the US market regardless of which option Washington ultimately selects.

For now, diesel buyers face elevated costs while the administration weighs its legal authority, industry opposition and the potential effect of export controls on domestic supply. Until the White House announces a formal measure, the proposals should be treated as unsettled.