Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 14046: Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons With Respect to the Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Declared a national emergency and authorized blocking, entry and menu-based sanctions against persons contributing to conflict, abuses or obstruction of aid and peace in northern Ethiopia.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 14046 still in effect? Yes. Active Ethiopia sanctions emergency through at least September 2026.

A stylized regional map, aid convoy and chained financial imagery accompany diplomatic symbols.
Ethiopia-related sanctions authority, illustrated symbolically; not a current sanctions list, measured aid route or claim about every person in the region. EO Explained · site-generated editorial illustration · not documentary evidence.

What does Executive Order 14046 do?

Treasury and State could identify persons meeting the Ethiopia criteria, with Treasury administering any sanctions and licenses.

Later primary evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: A presidential notice continued the Ethiopia national emergency declared by this order. Official source. The cited steps do not establish every downstream effect.

Administration position: The order’s findings and policy rationale were the Biden administration’s positions. This guide distinguishes them from implementation records and judicial rulings.
SignedSeptember 17, 2021
Lead officialsTreasury/OFAC and State
Express timingImmediate; designations, prohibitions and licenses as determined

Before and after

Before the order

Existing human-rights and sanctions authorities did not provide this Ethiopia-specific framework.

After the order

OFAC issued regulations, general licenses and designations while preserving humanitarian channels. The national emergency was continued beyond September 17, 2025 and OFAC continues listing the program.

A presidential notice continued the Ethiopia national emergency declared by this order.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Treasury and StateIdentify persons meeting sanctions criteriaAs determined
OFACAdminister blocking, menu sanctions and licensesOngoing

What happened next

EO 14046 signed.

OFAC designated persons and issued a humanitarian-related license.

Ethiopia Sanctions Regulations took effect.

Later primary evidence reviewed: A presidential notice continued the Ethiopia national emergency declared by this order.