Fuel Rations Cut 30%
Syria's government has ordered a 30 percent reduction in gasoline and diesel allocations for state-owned cars and machinery, the most concrete measure in a package aimed at reining in public spending. The directive was issued on 28 September 2026 by the General Secretariat of the Presidency, acting on a proposal from the Ministry of Finance.
Officials framed the step as a drive to curb unnecessary administrative and operational costs and to reorder spending priorities, rather than a blanket austerity program. The Ministry of Energy has been tasked with monitoring consumption and submitting periodic reports.
Which Vehicles Are Exempt
The reduction applies to government vehicles but spares public transport and emergency machinery, including ambulances and fire engines. Vehicles whose monthly allocation does not exceed 70 liters are also excluded from the cut.
Public bodies were instructed to combine and streamline official trips wherever possible to lower fuel use. Alongside the fuel measure, authorities suspended the purchase or replacement of furniture, office equipment, and administrative cars except where a clear need is demonstrated.
Non-Essential Costs Targeted
The measures single out spending that can be postponed or dropped without disrupting institutions or public services. Named categories include travel and official missions, hospitality, conferences, stationery, printing, and unnecessary communications.
Operational spending tied to health, education, water, energy, and public safety was explicitly protected, as were projects already at advanced stages of completion and those funded by external grants.
Salaries Left Untouched
State salaries, wages, and employee dues fall outside the rationalization drive, which the communiqué stressed would not touch worker compensation. The stated goal is to free savings from deferrable items while preserving public bodies' ability to meet their core obligations.
Projects Screened, Not Frozen
Investment projects face review and classification by priority rather than a general halt. Work continues on priority projects — those tied to essential services, infrastructure protection, financial returns, or the generation of foreign currency — while lower-value projects can be deferred or have their uncommitted funds recovered.
To prevent circumvention, the rules bar splitting projects or shifting budget lines to dodge the limits, and forbid public bodies from redirecting any savings toward new, non-priority spending.