The White House has issued a new executive order aimed at protecting Venezuelan government funds held in the United States from legal claims and judicial processes. The order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 9, 2026, cites concerns for both American national security and foreign policy interests.
According to the executive order, there is a significant risk that attempts to seize or impose judicial actions against these funds—referred to as “Foreign Government Deposit Funds”—could undermine U.S. efforts to promote stability in Venezuela. The document states: “the threat of attachment or the imposition of other judicial process against the Foreign Government Deposit Funds… will materially harm the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
President Trump explained that interference with these funds could disrupt initiatives meant to address issues such as illegal immigration, narcotics trafficking, and influence from groups like Iran and Hezbollah. He declared: “The failure of these critical efforts would jeopardize major foreign policy objectives of the United States, including: ending the dangerous influx of illegal immigrants and the flood of illicit narcotics, which has resulted in the death of countless thousands of American citizens; protecting American interests against malign actors such as Iran and Hezbollah; and bringing peace, prosperity, and stability to the Venezuelan people and to the Western Hemisphere more generally.”
The order establishes that any attempt to attach, transfer, or otherwise deal with these funds without proper authorization is prohibited. It also clarifies that previous executive orders affecting these funds are superseded by this new directive.
In outlining how these funds should be treated, President Trump stated: “The Foreign Government Deposit Funds constitute property of the Government of Venezuela and do not constitute the property of any private party, including judgment creditors of Venezuela or its agencies or instrumentalities…” Furthermore, he emphasized that: “The United States Government will hold the Foreign Government Deposit Funds solely in a custodial and governmental capacity, and not as a market participant.”
Under this order, only authorized officials—including the Secretary of State—can direct how or when these funds may be disbursed or transferred. The Secretary of Treasury is required to designate these accounts clearly as sovereign property belonging to Venezuela but held in U.S. custody.
The administration also underscored that holding these assets does not waive Venezuela’s sovereign immunity nor allow for their use in commercial activities within the United States. President Trump asserted: “Neither the placement of the Foreign Government Deposit Funds in a United States Department of the Treasury deposit account nor any related arrangement or activity constitutes an express or implied waiver of sovereign immunity…”
Finally, implementation responsibilities fall mainly on key cabinet members who must take all necessary steps within their authority to enforce this order.
This move comes amid ongoing challenges regarding governance in Venezuela and international efforts focused on managing state resources during periods of political uncertainty.
