Official reports submitted to Congress

Rep. Dusty Johnson Proposes $1 Panama Canal Repurchase Act Empowering Trump

Jan 8, 2025, 10:20 PM

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) has introduced the Panama Canal Repurchase Act of 2025, which would authorize President-elect Donald Trump or any U.S. president to negotiate the reacquisition of the Panama Canal from Panama. The bill proposes a symbolic purchase price of $1 and requires the president to report to Congress within 180 days on the progress and challenges of the negotiations. Johnson emphasized the strategic importance of the canal, citing concerns over China's influence in the region. He described the move as a "Teddy Roosevelt moment," highlighting that the canal was well-run under U.S. leadership and calling its handover in 1977 a "bad decision." Trump, during a recent press conference, highlighted the canal's significance to the U.S. and did not rule out the possibility of using military force to secure it. The legislation reflects broader Republican efforts to reassert U.S. control over the canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1977.