Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections Sanctions Regulations

Published date29 April 2019
Record Number2019-08587
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtForeign Assets Control Office
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 17950-17958]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-08587]
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                DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                Office of Foreign Assets Control
                31 CFR Part 579
                Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections Sanctions Regulations
                AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.
                ACTION: Final rule.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
                Control (OFAC) is adding regulations to implement Executive Order of
                September 12, 2018 (``Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of
                Foreign Interference in a United States Election''). OFAC intends to
                supplement these regulations with a more comprehensive set of
                regulations, which may include additional interpretive and definitional
                guidance, general licenses, and statements of licensing policy.
                DATES: Effective Date: April 29, 2019.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for
                Licensing, tel.: 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory
                Affairs, tel.: 202-622-4855; Assistant Director for Sanctions
                Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202-622-2490; or the Department of the
                Treasury's Office of the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), Office
                of the General Counsel, tel.: 202-622-2410.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                Electronic Availability
                 This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
                available on OFAC's website (www.treasury.gov/ofac).
                Background
                 On September 12, 2018, the President, invoking the authority of,
                inter alia, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
                1701-1706) (IEEPA), issued Executive Order 13848 (83 FR 46843,
                September 14, 2018) (E.O. 13848).
                 In E.O. 13848, the President determined that the ability of persons
                located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States to
                interfere in or undermine public confidence in United States elections,
                including through the unauthorized accessing of election and campaign
                infrastructure or the covert distribution of propaganda and
                disinformation, constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
                national security and foreign policy of the United States. Accordingly,
                the President then declared a national emergency to deal with that
                threat.
                 OFAC is issuing the Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections
                Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 579 (the ``Regulations''), to
                implement E.O. 13848, pursuant to authorities delegated to the
                Secretary of the Treasury in E.O. 13848. A copy of E.O. 13848 appears
                in appendix A to this part.
                 The Regulations are being published in abbreviated form at this
                time for the purpose of providing immediate guidance to the public.
                OFAC intends to supplement this part 579 with a more comprehensive set
                of regulations, which may include additional interpretive and
                definitional guidance, general licenses, and statements of licensing
                policy. The appendix to the Regulations will be removed when OFAC
                supplements this part with a more comprehensive set of regulations.
                Public Participation
                 Because the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, the
                provisions of Executive Order 12866 and the Administrative Procedure
                Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of proposed
                [[Page 17951]]
                rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in
                effective date, as well as the provisions of Executive Order 13771, are
                inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for
                this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) does not
                apply.
                Paperwork Reduction Act
                 The collections of information related to the Regulations are
                contained in 31 CFR part 501 (the ``Reporting, Procedures and Penalties
                Regulations''). Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
                U.S.C. 3507), those collections of information have been approved by
                the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1505-0164. An
                agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
                respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of
                information displays a valid control number.
                List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 579
                 Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of
                assets, Election infrastructure, Election interference, Foreign
                interference, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
                Sanctions.
                0
                For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the
                Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control adds part 579 to 31 CFR
                chapter V to read as follows:
                PART 579--FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN U.S. ELECTIONS SANCTIONS
                REGULATIONS
                Subpart A--Relation of This Part to Other Laws and Regulations
                Sec.
                579.101B Relation of this part to other laws and regulations.
                Subpart B--Prohibitions
                579.201 Prohibited transactions.
                579.202 Effect of transfers violating the provisions of this part.
                579.203 Holding of funds in interest-bearing accounts; investment
                and reinvestment.
                579.204 Expenses of maintaining blocked tangible property;
                liquidation of blocked property.
                579.205 Exempt transactions.
                Subpart C--General Definitions
                579.300 Applicability of definitions.
                579.301 Blocked account; blocked property.
                579.302 Effective date.
                579.303 Entity.
                579.304 Financial, material, or technological support.
                579.305 Information or informational materials.
                579.306 Interest.
                579.307 Licenses; general and specific.
                579.308 OFAC.
                579.309 Person.
                579.310 Property; property interest.
                579.311 Transfer.
                579.312 United States.
                579.313 United States person; U.S. person.
                579.314 U.S. financial institution.
                Subpart D--Interpretations
                579.401 [Reserved]
                579.402 Effect of amendment.
                579.403 Termination and acquisition of an interest in blocked
                property.
                579.404 Transactions ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction.
                579.405 Setoffs prohibited.
                579.406 Entities owned by one or more persons whose property and
                interests in property are blocked.
                Subpart E--Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing Policy
                579.501 General and specific licensing procedures.
                579.502 [Reserved]
                579.503 Exclusion from licenses.
                579.504 Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S. financial
                institutions.
                579.505 Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges.
                579.506 Provision of certain legal services.
                579.507 Payments for legal services from funds originating outside
                the United States.
                579.508 Emergency medical services.
                Subpart F--Reports
                579.601 Records and reports.
                Subpart G--Penalties and Findings of Violation
                579.701 Penalties and Findings of Violation. Subpart H--Procedures
                579.801 Procedures.
                579.802 Delegation of certain authorities of the Secretary of the
                Treasury.
                Subpart I--Paperwork Reduction Act
                579.901 Paperwork Reduction Act notice.
                Appendix A to Part 579--Executive Order 13848
                 Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651,
                1701-1706; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note);
                Pub. L. 110-96, 121 Stat. 1011 (50 U.S.C. 1705 note); E.O. 13848, 83
                FR 46843, September 12, 2018.
                Subpart A--Relation of This Part to Other Laws and Regulations
                Sec. 579.101 Relation of this part to other laws and regulations.
                 This part is separate from, and independent of, the other parts of
                this chapter, with the exception of part 501 of this chapter, the
                recordkeeping and reporting requirements and license application and
                other procedures of which apply to this part. Actions taken pursuant to
                part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in
                this part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part. Differing
                foreign policy and national security circumstances may result in
                differing interpretations of similar language among the parts of this
                chapter. No license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to
                those other parts authorizes any transaction prohibited by this part.
                No license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to any
                other provision of law or regulation authorizes any transaction
                prohibited by this part. No license or authorization contained in or
                issued pursuant to this part relieves the involved parties from
                complying with any other applicable laws or regulations.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.101: This part has been published in
                abbreviated form for the purpose of providing immediate guidance to the
                public. OFAC intends to supplement this part with a more comprehensive
                set of regulations, which may include additional interpretive and
                definitional guidance, general licenses, and statements of licensing
                policy.
                Subpart B--Prohibitions
                Sec. 579.201 Prohibited transactions.
                 All transactions prohibited pursuant to Executive Order 13848 of
                September 12, 2018, are also prohibited pursuant to this part.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.201: The names of persons designated pursuant
                to Executive Order 13848, whose property and interests in property
                therefore are blocked pursuant to this section, are published in the
                Federal Register and incorporated into OFAC's Specially Designated
                Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) with the identifier
                [``ELECTION-EO13848'']. The SDN List is accessible through the
                following page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional
                information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to
                this chapter. See Sec. 579.406 concerning entities that may not be
                listed on the SDN List but whose property and interests in property are
                nevertheless blocked pursuant to this section.
                 Note 2 to Sec. 579.201: The International Emergency Economic
                Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), in Section 203 (50 U.S.C. 1702),
                authorizes the blocking of property and interests in property of a
                person during the pendency of an investigation. The names of persons
                whose property and interests in property are blocked pending
                investigation pursuant to this section also are published in the
                Federal Register and incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier
                ``[BPI-ELECTION-EO13848]''.
                 Note 3 to Sec. 579.201: Sections 501.806 and 501.807 of this
                chapter describe the procedures to be followed by persons
                [[Page 17952]]
                seeking, respectively, the unblocking of funds that they believe were
                blocked due to mistaken identity, and administrative reconsideration of
                their status as persons whose property and interests in property are
                blocked pursuant to this section.
                Sec. 579.202 Effect of transfers violating the provisions of this
                part.
                 (a) Any transfer after the effective date that is in violation of
                any provision of this part or of any regulation, order, directive,
                ruling, instruction, or license issued pursuant to this part, and that
                involves any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to Sec.
                579.201, is null and void and shall not be the basis for the assertion
                or recognition of any interest in or right, remedy, power, or privilege
                with respect to such property or interest in property.
                 (b) No transfer before the effective date shall be the basis for
                the assertion or recognition of any right, remedy, power, or privilege
                with respect to, or any interest in, any property or interest in
                property blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, unless the person who holds
                or maintains such property, prior to that date, had written notice of
                the transfer or by any written evidence had recognized such transfer.
                 (c) Unless otherwise provided, a license or other authorization
                issued by OFAC before, during, or after a transfer shall validate such
                transfer or make it enforceable to the same extent that it would be
                valid or enforceable but for the provisions of this part and any
                regulation, order, directive, ruling, instruction, or license issued
                pursuant to this part.
                 (d) Transfers of property that otherwise would be null and void or
                unenforceable by virtue of the provisions of this section shall not be
                deemed to be null and void or unenforceable as to any person with whom
                such property is or was held or maintained (and as to such person only)
                in cases in which such person is able to establish to the satisfaction
                of OFAC each of the following:
                 (1) Such transfer did not represent a willful violation of the
                provisions of this part by the person with whom such property is or was
                held or maintained (and as to such person only);
                 (2) The person with whom such property is or was held or maintained
                did not have reasonable cause to know or suspect, in view of all the
                facts and circumstances known or available to such person, that such
                transfer required a license or authorization issued pursuant to this
                part and was not so licensed or authorized, or, if a license or
                authorization did purport to cover the transfer, that such license or
                authorization had been obtained by misrepresentation of a third party
                or withholding of material facts or was otherwise fraudulently
                obtained; and
                 (3) The person with whom such property is or was held or maintained
                filed with OFAC a report setting forth in full the circumstances
                relating to such transfer promptly upon discovery that:
                 (i) Such transfer was in violation of the provisions of this part
                or any regulation, ruling, instruction, license, or other directive or
                authorization issued pursuant to this part;
                 (ii) Such transfer was not licensed or authorized by OFAC; or
                 (iii) If a license did purport to cover the transfer, such license
                had been obtained by misrepresentation of a third party or withholding
                of material facts or was otherwise fraudulently obtained.
                 (e) The filing of a report in accordance with the provisions of
                paragraph (d)(3) of this section shall not be deemed evidence that the
                terms of paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section have been satisfied.
                 (f) Unless licensed pursuant to this part, any attachment,
                judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial
                process is null and void with respect to any property or interest in
                property blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201.
                Sec. 579.203 Holding of funds in interest-bearing accounts;
                investment and reinvestment.
                 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (e) or (f) of this section, or
                as otherwise directed or authorized by OFAC, any U.S. person holding
                funds, such as currency, bank deposits, or liquidated financial
                obligations, subject to Sec. 579.201 shall hold or place such funds in
                a blocked interest-bearing account located in the United States.
                 (b)(1) For purposes of this section, the term blocked interest-
                bearing account means a blocked account:
                 (i) In a federally insured U.S. bank, thrift institution, or credit
                union, provided the funds are earning interest at rates that are
                commercially reasonable; or
                 (ii) With a broker or dealer registered with the Securities and
                Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
                U.S.C. 78a et seq.), provided the funds are invested in a money market
                fund or in U.S. Treasury bills.
                 (2) Funds held or placed in a blocked account pursuant to paragraph
                (a) of this section may not be invested in instruments the maturity of
                which exceeds 180 days.
                 (c) For purposes of this section, a rate is commercially reasonable
                if it is the rate currently offered to other depositors on deposits or
                instruments of comparable size and maturity.
                 (d) For purposes of this section, if interest is credited to a
                separate blocked account or subaccount, the name of the account party
                on each account must be the same.
                 (e) Blocked funds held in instruments the maturity of which exceeds
                180 days at the time the funds become subject to Sec. 579.201 may
                continue to be held until maturity in the original instrument, provided
                any interest, earnings, or other proceeds derived therefrom are paid
                into a blocked interest-bearing account in accordance with paragraph
                (a) or (f) of this section.
                 (f) Blocked funds held in accounts or instruments outside the
                United States at the time the funds become subject to Sec. 579.201 may
                continue to be held in the same type of accounts or instruments,
                provided the funds earn interest at rates that are commercially
                reasonable.
                 (g) This section does not create an affirmative obligation for the
                holder of blocked tangible property, such as real or personal property,
                or of other blocked property, such as debt or equity securities, to
                sell or liquidate such property. However, OFAC may issue licenses
                permitting or directing such sales or liquidation in appropriate cases.
                 (h) Funds subject to this section may not be held, invested, or
                reinvested in a manner that provides financial or economic benefit or
                access to any person whose property and interests in property are
                blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, nor may their holder cooperate in or
                facilitate the pledging or other attempted use as collateral of blocked
                funds or other assets.
                Sec. 579.204 Expenses of maintaining blocked tangible property;
                liquidation of blocked property.
                 (a) Except as otherwise authorized, and notwithstanding the
                existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by any
                international agreement or contract entered into or any license or
                permit granted prior to the effective date, all expenses incident to
                the maintenance of tangible property blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201
                shall be the responsibility of the owners or operators of such
                property, which expenses shall not be met from blocked funds.
                 (b) Property blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201 may, in the
                discretion of OFAC, be sold or liquidated and the net proceeds placed
                in a blocked interest-bearing account in the name of the owner of the
                property.
                [[Page 17953]]
                Sec. 579.205 Exempt transactions.
                 (a) Personal communications. The prohibitions contained in this
                part do not apply to any postal, telegraphic, telephonic, or other
                personal communication that does not involve the transfer of anything
                of value.
                 (b) Information or informational materials. (1) The prohibitions
                contained in this part do not apply to the importation from any country
                and the exportation to any country of any information or informational
                materials, as defined in Sec. 579.305, whether commercial or
                otherwise, regardless of format or medium of transmission.
                 (2) This section does not exempt from regulation transactions
                related to information or informational materials not fully created and
                in existence at the date of the transactions, or to the substantive or
                artistic alteration or enhancement of information or informational
                materials, or to the provision of marketing and business consulting
                services. Such prohibited transactions include payment of advances for
                information or informational materials not yet created and completed
                (with the exception of prepaid subscriptions for widely circulated
                magazines and other periodical publications); provision of services to
                market, produce or co-produce, create, or assist in the creation of
                information or informational materials; and payment of royalties with
                respect to income received for enhancements or alterations made by U.S.
                persons to such information or informational materials.
                 (3) This section does not exempt transactions incident to the
                exportation of software subject to the Export Administration
                Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 774, or to the exportation of
                goods (including software) or technology for use in the transmission of
                any data, or to the provision, sale, or leasing of capacity on
                telecommunications transmission facilities (such as satellite or
                terrestrial network connectivity) for use in the transmission of any
                data. The exportation of such items or services and the provision,
                sale, or leasing of such capacity or facilities to a person whose
                property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec.
                579.201 are prohibited.
                 (c) Travel. The prohibitions contained in this part do not apply to
                transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from any country,
                including importation or exportation of accompanied baggage for
                personal use, maintenance within any country including payment of
                living expenses and acquisition of goods or services for personal use,
                and arrangement or facilitation of such travel including nonscheduled
                air, sea, or land voyages.
                 (d) Official business. The prohibitions contained in this part do
                not apply to transactions for the conduct of the official business of
                the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors
                thereof.
                Subpart C--General Definitions
                Sec. 579.300 Applicability of definitions.
                 The definitions in this subpart apply throughout the entire part.
                Sec. 579.301 Blocked account; blocked property.
                 The terms blocked account and blocked property shall mean any
                account or property subject to the prohibitions in Sec. 579.201 held
                in the name of a person whose property and interests in property are
                blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, or in which such person has an
                interest, and with respect to which payments, transfers, exportations,
                withdrawals, or other dealings may not be made or effected except
                pursuant to a license or other authorization from OFAC expressly
                authorizing such action.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.301: See Sec. 579.406 concerning the blocked
                status of property and interests in property of an entity that is
                directly or indirectly owned, whether individually or in the aggregate,
                50 percent or more by one or more persons whose property and interests
                in property are blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201.
                Sec. 579.302 Effective date.
                 (a) The term effective date refers to the effective date of the
                applicable prohibitions and directives contained in this part, and,
                with respect to a person whose property and interests in property are
                otherwise blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, the earlier of the date of
                actual or constructive notice that such person's property and interests
                in property are blocked.
                 (b) For the purposes of this section, constructive notice is the
                date that a notice of the blocking of the relevant person's property
                and interests in property is published in the Federal Register.
                Sec. 579.303 Entity.
                 The term entity means a partnership, association, trust, joint
                venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization.
                Sec. 579.304 Financial, material, or technological support.
                 The term financial, material, or technological support, as used in
                Executive Order 13848 of September 14, 2018, means any property,
                tangible or intangible, including currency, financial instruments,
                securities, or any other transmission of value; weapons or related
                materiel; chemical or biological agents; explosives; false
                documentation or identification; communications equipment; computers;
                electronic or other devices or equipment; technologies; lodging; safe
                houses; facilities; vehicles or other means of transportation; or
                goods. ``Technologies'' as used in this definition means specific
                information necessary for the development, production, or use of a
                product, including related technical data such as blueprints, plans,
                diagrams, models, formulae, tables, engineering designs and
                specifications, manuals, or other recorded instructions.
                Sec. 579.305 Information or informational materials.
                 (a)(1) The term information or informational materials includes
                publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs,
                microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and
                news wire feeds.
                 (2) To be considered information or informational materials,
                artworks must be classified under heading 9701, 9702, or 9703 of the
                Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
                 (b) The term information or informational materials, with respect
                to exports, does not include items:
                 (1) That were, as of April 30, 1994, or that thereafter become,
                controlled for export pursuant to section 5 of the Export
                Administration Act of 1979, 50 U.S.C. App. 2401-2420 (1979) (EAA), or
                section 6 of the EAA to the extent that such controls promote the
                nonproliferation or antiterrorism policies of the United States; or
                 (2) With respect to which acts are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. chapter
                37.
                Sec. 579.306 Interest.
                 Except as otherwise provided in this part, the term interest, when
                used with respect to property (e.g., ``an interest in property''),
                means an interest of any nature whatsoever, direct or indirect.
                Sec. 579.307 Licenses; general and specific.
                 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, the term license
                means any license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to
                this part.
                 (b) The term general license means any license or authorization the
                terms of which are set forth in subpart E of this part or made
                available on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/ofac.
                 (c) The term specific license means any license or authorization
                issued
                [[Page 17954]]
                pursuant to this part but not set forth in subpart E of this part or
                made available on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/ofac.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.307: See Sec. 501.801 of this chapter on
                licensing procedures.
                Sec. 579.308 OFAC.
                 The term OFAC means the Department of the Treasury's Office of
                Foreign Assets Control.
                Sec. 579.309 Person.
                 The term person means an individual or entity.
                Sec. 579.310 Property; property interest.
                 The terms property and property interest include money, checks,
                drafts, bullion, bank deposits, savings accounts, debts, indebtedness,
                obligations, notes, guarantees, debentures, stocks, bonds, coupons, any
                other financial instruments, bankers acceptances, mortgages, pledges,
                liens or other rights in the nature of security, warehouse receipts,
                bills of lading, trust receipts, bills of sale, any other evidences of
                title, ownership, or indebtedness, letters of credit and any documents
                relating to any rights or obligations thereunder, powers of attorney,
                goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, stocks on hand, ships, goods on
                ships, real estate mortgages, deeds of trust, vendors' sales
                agreements, land contracts, leaseholds, ground rents, real estate and
                any other interest therein, options, negotiable instruments, trade
                acceptances, royalties, book accounts, accounts payable, judgments,
                patents, trademarks or copyrights, insurance policies, safe deposit
                boxes and their contents, annuities, pooling agreements, services of
                any nature whatsoever, contracts of any nature whatsoever, and any
                other property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or
                interest or interests therein, present, future, or contingent.
                Sec. 579.311 Transfer.
                 The term transfer means any actual or purported act or transaction,
                whether or not evidenced by writing, and whether or not done or
                performed within the United States, the purpose, intent, or effect of
                which is to create, surrender, release, convey, transfer, or alter,
                directly or indirectly, any right, remedy, power, privilege, or
                interest with respect to any property. Without limitation on the
                foregoing, it shall include the making, execution, or delivery of any
                assignment, power, conveyance, check, declaration, deed, deed of trust,
                power of attorney, power of appointment, bill of sale, mortgage,
                receipt, agreement, contract, certificate, gift, sale, affidavit, or
                statement; the making of any payment; the setting off of any obligation
                or credit; the appointment of any agent, trustee, or fiduciary; the
                creation or transfer of any lien; the issuance, docketing, filing, or
                levy of or under any judgment, decree, attachment, injunction,
                execution, or other judicial or administrative process or order, or the
                service of any garnishment; the acquisition of any interest of any
                nature whatsoever by reason of a judgment or decree of any foreign
                country; the fulfillment of any condition; the exercise of any power of
                appointment, power of attorney, or other power; or the acquisition,
                disposition, transportation, importation, exportation, or withdrawal of
                any security.
                Sec. 579.312 United States.
                 The term United States means the United States, its territories and
                possessions, and all areas under the jurisdiction or authority thereof.
                Sec. 579.313 United States person; U.S. person.
                 The term United States person or U.S. person means any United
                States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the
                laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States
                (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
                Sec. 579.314 U.S. financial institution.
                 The term U.S. financial institution means any U.S. entity
                (including its foreign branches) that is engaged in the business of
                accepting deposits, making, granting, transferring, holding, or
                brokering loans or other extensions of credit, or purchasing or selling
                foreign exchange, securities, commodity futures or options, or
                procuring purchasers and sellers thereof, as principal or agent. It
                includes depository institutions, banks, savings banks, trust
                companies, securities brokers and dealers, futures and options brokers
                and dealers, forward contract and foreign exchange merchants,
                securities and commodities exchanges, clearing corporations, investment
                companies, employee benefit plans, and U.S. holding companies, U.S.
                affiliates, or U.S. subsidiaries of any of the foregoing. This term
                includes those branches, offices, and agencies of foreign financial
                institutions that are located in the United States, but not such
                institutions' foreign branches, offices, or agencies.
                Subpart D--Interpretations
                Sec. 579.401 [Reserved]
                Sec. 579.402 Effect of amendment.
                 Unless otherwise specifically provided, any amendment,
                modification, or revocation of any provision in or appendix to this
                part or chapter or of any order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or
                license issued by OFAC does not affect any act done or omitted, or any
                civil or criminal proceeding commenced or pending, prior to such
                amendment, modification, or revocation. All penalties, forfeitures, and
                liabilities under any such order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or
                license continue and may be enforced as if such amendment,
                modification, or revocation had not been made.
                Sec. 579.403 Termination and acquisition of an interest in blocked
                property.
                 (a) Whenever a transaction licensed or authorized by or pursuant to
                this part results in the transfer of property (including any property
                interest) away from a person whose property and interests in property
                are blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, such property shall no longer be
                deemed to be property blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, unless there
                exists in the property another interest that is blocked pursuant to
                Sec. 579.201, the transfer of which has not been effected pursuant to
                license or other authorization.
                 (b) Unless otherwise specifically provided in a license or
                authorization issued pursuant to this part, if property (including any
                property interest) is transferred or attempted to be transferred to a
                person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to
                Sec. 579.201, such property shall be deemed to be property in which
                such person has an interest and therefore blocked.
                Sec. 579.404 Transactions ordinarily incident to a licensed
                transaction.
                 Any transaction ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction and
                necessary to give effect thereto is also authorized, except:
                 (a) An ordinarily incident transaction, not explicitly authorized
                within the terms of the license, by or with a person whose property and
                interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201; or
                 (b) An ordinarily incident transaction, not explicitly authorized
                within the terms of the license, involving a debit to a blocked account
                or a transfer of blocked property.
                [[Page 17955]]
                Sec. 579.405 Setoffs prohibited.
                 A setoff against blocked property (including a blocked account),
                whether by a U.S. bank or other U.S. person, is a prohibited transfer
                under Sec. 579.201 if effected after the effective date.
                Sec. 579.406 Entities owned by one or more persons whose property and
                interests in property are blocked.
                 Persons whose property and interests in property are blocked
                pursuant to Sec. 579.201 have an interest in all property and
                interests in property of an entity in which such persons directly or
                indirectly own, whether individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent
                or greater interest. The property and interests in property of such an
                entity, therefore, are blocked, and such an entity is a person whose
                property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec.
                579.201, regardless of whether the name of the entity is incorporated
                into OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List
                (SDN List).
                Subpart E--Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing
                Policy
                Sec. 579.501 General and specific licensing procedures.
                 For provisions relating to licensing procedures, see part 501,
                subpart E, of this chapter. Licensing actions taken pursuant to part
                501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this
                part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part. General
                licenses and statements of licensing policy relating to this part also
                may be available through the Foreign Interference in a United States
                Election Sanctions page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/ofac.
                Sec. 579.502 [Reserved]
                Sec. 579.503 Exclusion from licenses.
                 OFAC reserves the right to exclude any person, property,
                transaction, or class thereof from the operation of any license or from
                the privileges conferred by any license. OFAC also reserves the right
                to restrict the applicability of any license to particular persons,
                property, transactions, or classes thereof. Such actions are binding
                upon actual or constructive notice of the exclusions or restrictions.
                Sec. 579.504 Payments and transfers to blocked accounts in U.S.
                financial institutions.
                 Any payment of funds or transfer of credit in which a person whose
                property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec.
                579.201 has any interest that comes within the possession or control of
                a U.S. financial institution must be blocked in an account on the books
                of that financial institution. A transfer of funds or credit by a U.S.
                financial institution between blocked accounts in its branches or
                offices is authorized, provided that no transfer is made from an
                account within the United States to an account held outside the United
                States, and further provided that a transfer from a blocked account may
                be made only to another blocked account held in the same name.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.504: See Sec. 501.603 of this chapter for
                mandatory reporting requirements regarding financial transfers. See
                also Sec. 579.203 concerning the obligation to hold blocked funds in
                interest-bearing accounts.
                Sec. 579.505 Entries in certain accounts for normal service charges.
                 (a) A U.S. financial institution is authorized to debit any blocked
                account held at that financial institution in payment or reimbursement
                for normal service charges owed it by the owner of that blocked
                account.
                 (b) As used in this section, the term normal service charges shall
                include charges in payment or reimbursement for interest due; cable,
                telegraph, internet, or telephone charges; postage costs; custody fees;
                small adjustment charges to correct bookkeeping errors; and, but not by
                way of limitation, minimum balance charges, notary and protest fees,
                and charges for reference books, photocopies, credit reports,
                transcripts of statements, registered mail, insurance, stationery and
                supplies, and other similar items.
                Sec. 579.506 Provision of certain legal services.
                 (a) The provision of the following legal services to or on behalf
                of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked
                pursuant to Sec. 579.201 or any further Executive orders relating to
                the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13848 of September
                12, 2018 is authorized, provided that any receipt of payment of
                professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses is authorized
                pursuant to Sec. 579.507, which authorizes certain payments for legal
                services from funds originating outside the United States; via specific
                license; or otherwise pursuant to this part:
                 (1) Provision of legal advice and counseling on the requirements of
                and compliance with the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction
                within the United States, provided that such advice and counseling are
                not provided to facilitate transactions in violation of this part;
                 (2) Representation of persons named as defendants in or otherwise
                made parties to legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings
                before any U.S. federal, state, or local court or agency;
                 (3) Initiation and conduct of legal, arbitration, or administrative
                proceedings before any U.S. federal, state, or local court or agency;
                 (4) Representation of persons before any U.S. federal, state, or
                local court or agency with respect to the imposition, administration,
                or enforcement of U.S. sanctions against such persons; and
                 (5) Provision of legal services in any other context in which
                prevailing U.S. law requires access to legal counsel at public expense.
                 (b) The provision of any other legal services to or on behalf of
                persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant
                to Sec. 579.201 or any further Executive orders relating to the
                national emergency declared in Executive Order 13848 of September 12,
                2018, not otherwise authorized in this part, requires the issuance of a
                specific license.
                 (c) U.S. persons do not need to obtain specific authorization to
                provide related services, such as making filings and providing other
                administrative services, that are ordinarily incident to the provision
                of services authorized by this section. Additionally, U.S. persons who
                provide services authorized by this section do not need to obtain
                specific authorization to contract for related services that are
                ordinarily incident to the provision of those legal services, such as
                those provided by private investigators or expert witnesses, or to pay
                for such services. See Sec. 579.404.
                 (d) Entry into a settlement agreement or the enforcement of any
                lien, judgment, arbitral award, decree, or other order through
                execution, garnishment, or other judicial process purporting to
                transfer or otherwise alter or affect property or interests in property
                blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201 or any further Executive orders
                relating to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13848 of
                September 12, 2018, is prohibited unless licensed pursuant to this
                part.
                 Note 1 to Sec. 579.506: Pursuant to part 501, subpart E, of this
                chapter, U.S. persons seeking administrative reconsideration or
                judicial review of their designation or the blocking of their property
                and interests in property may apply for a specific license from OFAC to
                authorize the release of certain blocked funds for the payment of
                professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the
                provision of
                [[Page 17956]]
                such legal services where alternative funding sources are not
                available. For more information, see OFAC's Guidance on the Release of
                Limited Amounts of Blocked Funds for Payment of Legal Fees and Costs
                Incurred in Challenging the Blocking of U.S. Persons in Administrative
                or Civil Proceedings, which is available on OFAC's website at:
                www.treasury.gov/ofac.
                Sec. 579.507 Payments for legal services from funds originating
                outside the United States.
                 (a) Professional fees and incurred expenses. (1) Receipt of payment
                of professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses for the
                provision of legal services authorized pursuant to Sec. 579.506(a) to
                or on behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are
                blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201 or any further Executive orders
                relating to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13848 of
                September 12, 2018, is authorized from funds originating outside the
                United States, provided that the funds do not originate from:
                 (i) A source within the United States;
                 (ii) Any source, wherever located, within the possession or control
                of a U.S. person; or
                 (iii) Any individual or entity, other than the person on whose
                behalf the legal services authorized pursuant to Sec. 579.506(a) are
                to be provided, whose property and interests in property are blocked
                pursuant to any part of this chapter or any Executive order or statute.
                 (2) Nothing in this paragraph (a) authorizes payments for legal
                services using funds in which any other person whose property and
                interests in property are blocked pursuant to Sec. 579.201, any other
                part of this chapter, or any Executive order has an interest.
                 (b) Reports. (1) U.S. persons who receive payments pursuant to
                paragraph (a) of this section must submit annual reports no later than
                30 days following the end of the calendar year during which the
                payments were received providing information on the funds received.
                Such reports shall specify:
                 (i) The individual or entity from whom the funds originated and the
                amount of funds received; and
                 (ii) If applicable:
                 (A) The names of any individuals or entities providing related
                services to the U.S. person receiving payment in connection with
                authorized legal services, such as private investigators or expert
                witnesses;
                 (B) A general description of the services provided; and
                 (C) The amount of funds paid in connection with such services.
                 (2) The reports, which must reference this section, are to be
                submitted to OFAC using one of the following methods:
                 (i) Email (preferred method):
                [email protected]; or
                 (ii) U.S. mail: OFAC Regulations Reports, Office of Foreign Assets
                Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
                Freedman's Bank Building, Washington, DC 20220.
                Sec. 579.508 Emergency medical services.
                 The provision and receipt of nonscheduled emergency medical
                services that are otherwise prohibited by this part or any further
                Executive orders relating to the national emergency declared in
                Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018, are authorized.
                Subpart F--Reports
                Sec. 579.601 Records and reports.
                 For provisions relating to required records and reports, see part
                501, subpart C, of this chapter. Recordkeeping and reporting
                requirements imposed by part 501 of this chapter with respect to the
                prohibitions contained in this part are considered requirements arising
                pursuant to this part.
                Subpart G--Penalties and Findings of Violation
                Sec. 579.701 Penalties and Findings of Violation.
                 (a) The penalties available under section 206 of the International
                Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) (IEEPA), as
                adjusted annually pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
                Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410, as amended, 28 U.S.C. 2461
                note) or, in the case of criminal violations, as adjusted pursuant to
                18 U.S.C. 3571, are applicable to violations of the provisions of this
                part.
                 (b) OFAC has the authority, pursuant to IEEPA, to issue Pre-Penalty
                Notices, Penalty Notices, and Findings of Violation; impose monetary
                penalties; engage in settlement discussions and enter into settlements;
                refer matters to the United States Department of Justice for
                administrative collection; and, in appropriate circumstances, refer
                matters to appropriate law enforcement agencies for criminal
                investigation and/or prosecution. For more information, see appendix A
                to part 501 of this chapter, which provides a general framework for the
                enforcement of all economic sanctions programs administered by OFAC,
                including enforcement-related definitions, types of responses to
                apparent violations, general factors affecting administrative actions,
                civil penalties for failure to comply with a requirement to furnish
                information or keep records, and other general civil penalties
                information.
                 Subpart H--Procedures
                Sec. 579.801 Procedures.
                 For license application procedures and procedures relating to
                amendments, modifications, or revocations of licenses; administrative
                decisions; rulemaking; and requests for documents pursuant to the
                Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts (5 U.S.C. 552 and 552a), see
                part 501, subpart E, of this chapter.
                Sec. 579.802 Delegation of certain authorities by the Secretary of
                the Treasury.
                 Any action that the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to take
                pursuant to Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018, and any
                further Executive orders relating to the national emergency declared
                therein, may be taken by the Director of OFAC or by any other person to
                whom the Secretary of the Treasury has delegated authority so to act.
                Subpart I--Paperwork Reduction Act
                Sec. 579.901 Paperwork Reduction Act notice.
                 For approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the
                Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507) of information
                collections relating to recordkeeping and reporting requirements,
                licensing procedures, and other procedures, see Sec. 501.901 of this
                chapter. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
                required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays
                a valid control number assigned by OMB.
                Appendix A to Part 579--Executive Order 13848
                Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018
                Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a
                United States Election
                 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
                and the laws of the United States of America, including the
                International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)
                (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)
                (NEA), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
                (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
                 I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America,
                find that the ability of persons located, in whole or in substantial
                [[Page 17957]]
                part, outside the United States to interfere in or undermine public
                confidence in United States elections, including through the
                unauthorized accessing of election and campaign infrastructure or
                the covert distribution of propaganda and disinformation,
                constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
                security and foreign policy of the United States. Although there has
                been no evidence of a foreign power altering the outcome or vote
                tabulation in any United States election, foreign powers have
                historically sought to exploit America's free and open political
                system. In recent years, the proliferation of digital devices and
                internet-based communications has created significant
                vulnerabilities and magnified the scope and intensity of the threat
                of foreign interference, as illustrated in the 2017 Intelligence
                Community Assessment. I hereby declare a national emergency to deal
                with this threat. Accordingly, I hereby order:
                 Section 1. (a) Not later than 45 days after the conclusion of a
                United States election, the Director of National Intelligence, in
                consultation with the heads of any other appropriate executive
                departments and agencies (agencies), shall conduct an assessment of
                any information indicating that a foreign government, or any person
                acting as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign government, has
                acted with the intent or purpose of interfering in that election.
                The assessment shall identify, to the maximum extent ascertainable,
                the nature of any foreign interference and any methods employed to
                execute it, the persons involved, and the foreign government or
                governments that authorized, directed, sponsored, or supported it.
                The Director of National Intelligence shall deliver this assessment
                and appropriate supporting information to the President, the
                Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of
                Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland
                Security.
                 (b) Within 45 days of receiving the assessment and information
                described in section 1(a) of this order, the Attorney General and
                the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the heads
                of any other appropriate agencies and, as appropriate, State and
                local officials, shall deliver to the President, the Secretary of
                State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense a
                report evaluating, with respect to the United States election that
                is the subject of the assessment described in section 1(a):
                 (i) the extent to which any foreign interference that targeted
                election infrastructure materially affected the security or
                integrity of that infrastructure, the tabulation of votes, or the
                timely transmission of election results; and
                 (ii) if any foreign interference involved activities targeting
                the infrastructure of, or pertaining to, a political organization,
                campaign, or candidate, the extent to which such activities
                materially affected the security or integrity of that
                infrastructure, including by unauthorized access to, disclosure or
                threatened disclosure of, or alteration or falsification of,
                information or data.
                 The report shall identify any material issues of fact with
                respect to these matters that the Attorney General and the Secretary
                of Homeland Security are unable to evaluate or reach agreement on at
                the time the report is submitted. The report shall also include
                updates and recommendations, when appropriate, regarding remedial
                actions to be taken by the United States Government, other than the
                sanctions described in sections 2 and 3 of this order.
                 (c) Heads of all relevant agencies shall transmit to the
                Director of National Intelligence any information relevant to the
                execution of the Director's duties pursuant to this order, as
                appropriate and consistent with applicable law. If relevant
                information emerges after the submission of the report mandated by
                section 1(a) of this order, the Director, in consultation with the
                heads of any other appropriate agencies, shall amend the report, as
                appropriate, and the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland
                Security shall amend the report required by section 1(b), as
                appropriate.
                 (d) Nothing in this order shall prevent the head of any agency
                or any other appropriate official from tendering to the President,
                at any time through an appropriate channel, any analysis,
                information, assessment, or evaluation of foreign interference in a
                United States election.
                 (e) If information indicating that foreign interference in a
                State, tribal, or local election within the United States has
                occurred is identified, it may be included, as appropriate, in the
                assessment mandated by section 1(a) of this order or in the report
                mandated by section 1(b) of this order, or submitted to the
                President in an independent report.
                 (f) Not later than 30 days following the date of this order, the
                Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney
                General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of
                National Intelligence shall develop a framework for the process that
                will be used to carry out their respective responsibilities pursuant
                to this order. The framework, which may be classified in whole or in
                part, shall focus on ensuring that agencies fulfill their
                responsibilities pursuant to this order in a manner that maintains
                methodological consistency; protects law enforcement or other
                sensitive information and intelligence sources and methods;
                maintains an appropriate separation between intelligence functions
                and policy and legal judgments; ensures that efforts to protect
                electoral processes and institutions are insulated from political
                bias; and respects the principles of free speech and open debate.
                 Sec. 2. (a) All property and interests in property that are in
                the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or
                that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any
                United States person of the following persons are blocked and may
                not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt
                in: any foreign person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury,
                in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General,
                and the Secretary of Homeland Security:
                 (i) to have directly or indirectly engaged in, sponsored,
                concealed, or otherwise been complicit in foreign interference in a
                United States election;
                 (ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided
                financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or
                services to or in support of, any activity described in subsection
                (a)(i) of this section or any person whose property and interests in
                property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
                 (iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or
                purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any
                person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant
                to this order.
                 (b) Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015, as amended by
                Executive Order 13757 of December 28, 2016, remains in effect. This
                order is not intended to, and does not, serve to limit the Secretary
                of the Treasury's discretion to exercise the authorities provided in
                Executive Order 13694. Where appropriate, the Secretary of the
                Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the
                Secretary of State, may exercise the authorities described in
                Executive Order 13694 or other authorities in conjunction with the
                Secretary of the Treasury's exercise of authorities provided in this
                order.
                 (c) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply
                except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations,
                orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this
                order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license
                or permit granted prior to the date of this order.
                 Sec. 3. Following the transmission of the assessment mandated by
                section 1(a) and the report mandated by section 1(b):
                 (a) the Secretary of the Treasury shall review the assessment
                mandated by section 1(a) and the report mandated by section 1(b),
                and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney
                General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, impose all
                appropriate sanctions pursuant to section 2(a) of this order and any
                appropriate sanctions described in section 2(b) of this order; and
                 (b) the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, in
                consultation with the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall
                jointly prepare a recommendation for the President as to whether
                additional sanctions against foreign persons may be appropriate in
                response to the identified foreign interference and in light of the
                evaluation in the report mandated by section 1(b) of this order,
                including, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law,
                proposed sanctions with respect to the largest business entities
                licensed or domiciled in a country whose government authorized,
                directed, sponsored, or supported election interference, including
                at least one entity from each of the following sectors: financial
                services, defense, energy, technology, and transportation (or, if
                inapplicable to that country's largest business entities, sectors of
                comparable strategic significance to that foreign government). The
                recommendation shall include an assessment of the effect of the
                recommended sanctions on the economic and national security
                interests of the United States and its allies. Any recommended
                sanctions shall be appropriately calibrated to the scope of the
                [[Page 17958]]
                foreign interference identified, and may include one or more of the
                following with respect to each targeted foreign person:
                 (i) blocking and prohibiting all transactions in a person's
                property and interests in property subject to United States
                jurisdiction;
                 (ii) export license restrictions under any statute or regulation
                that requires the prior review and approval of the United States
                Government as a condition for the export or re-export of goods or
                services;
                 (iii) prohibitions on United States financial institutions
                making loans or providing credit to a person;
                 (iv) restrictions on transactions in foreign exchange in which a
                person has any interest;
                 (v) prohibitions on transfers of credit or payments between
                financial institutions, or by, through, or to any financial
                institution, for the benefit of a person;
                 (vi) prohibitions on United States persons investing in or
                purchasing equity or debt of a person;
                 (vii) exclusion of a person's alien corporate officers from the
                United States;
                 (viii) imposition on a person's alien principal executive
                officers of any of the sanctions described in this section; or
                 (ix) any other measures authorized by law.
                 Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the
                type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C.
                1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property
                and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would
                seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency
                declared in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as
                provided by section 2 of this order.
                 Sec. 5. The prohibitions in section 2 of this order include the
                following:
                 (a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods,
                or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property
                and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
                 (b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds,
                goods, or services from any such person.
                 Sec. 6. I hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and
                nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens whose property
                and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would
                be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby
                suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants or
                nonimmigrants, of such persons. Such persons shall be treated as
                persons covered by section 1 of Proclamation 8693 of July 24, 2011
                (Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to United Nations Security
                Council Travel Bans and International Emergency Economic Powers Act
                Sanctions).
                 Sec. 7. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the
                purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts
                to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is
                prohibited.
                 (b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set
                forth in this order is prohibited.
                 Sec. 8. For the purposes of this order:
                 (a) the term ``person'' means an individual or entity;
                 (b) the term ``entity'' means a partnership, association, trust,
                joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
                 (c) the term ``United States person'' means any United States
                citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws
                of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States
                (including foreign branches), or any person (including a foreign
                person) in the United States;
                 (d) the term ``election infrastructure'' means information and
                communications technology and systems used by or on behalf of the
                Federal Government or a State or local government in managing the
                election process, including voter registration databases, voting
                machines, voting tabulation equipment, and equipment for the secure
                transmission of election results;
                 (e) the term ``United States election'' means any election for
                Federal office held on, or after, the date of this order;
                 (f) the term ``foreign interference,'' with respect to an
                election, includes any covert, fraudulent, deceptive, or unlawful
                actions or attempted actions of a foreign government, or of any
                person acting as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign government,
                undertaken with the purpose or effect of influencing, undermining
                confidence in, or altering the result or reported result of, the
                election, or undermining public confidence in election processes or
                institutions;
                 (g) the term ``foreign government'' means any national, state,
                provincial, or other governing authority, any political party, or
                any official of any governing authority or political party, in each
                case of a country other than the United States;
                 (h) the term ``covert,'' with respect to an action or attempted
                action, means characterized by an intent or apparent intent that the
                role of aforeign government will not be apparent or acknowledged
                publicly; and
                 (i) the term ``State'' means the several States or any of the
                territories, dependencies, or possessions of the United States.
                 Sec. 9. For those persons whose property and interests in
                property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a
                constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of
                the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior
                notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this
                order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine
                that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national
                emergency declared in this order, there need be no prior notice of a
                listing or determination made pursuant to section 2 of this order.
                 Sec. 10. Nothing in this order shall prohibit transactions for
                the conduct of the official business of the United States Government
                by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.
                 Sec. 11. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
                Attorney General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to
                take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and
                regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by
                IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order.
                The Secretary of the Treasury may re-delegate any of these functions
                to other officers within the Department of the Treasury consistent
                with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government
                are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their
                authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
                 Sec. 12. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
                Attorney General and the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to
                submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the
                national emergency declared in this order, consistent with section
                401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C.1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50
                U.S.C. 1703(c)).
                 Sec. 13. This order shall be implemented consistent with 50
                U.S.C. 1702(b)(1) and (3).
                 Sec. 14. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair
                or otherwise affect:
                 (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or
                agency, or the head thereof; or
                 (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management
                and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative
                proposals.
                 (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable
                law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
                 (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any
                right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
                in equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
                other person.
                 Donald J. Trump
                 THE WHITE HOUSE,
                 September 12, 2018.
                Andrea Gacki,
                Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
                 Approved:
                Sigal P. Mandelker,
                Under Secretary, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence,
                Department of the Treasury.
                [FR Doc. 2019-08587 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P
                

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