Biden reports expanded Western Balkans sanctions order to Congress

President Joe Biden sent Congress a January 8, 2025 message reporting that he had issued an executive order expanding U.S. sanctions authority for the Western Balkans. The message said the order added targeting grounds under Executive Order 14033, including attempts to evade sanctions, leadership or membership in sanctioned entities, ownership or control of sanctioned persons, and sanctions consequences for spouses or adult children of certain sanctioned persons. The report was required because the action relied on emergency economic powers and national-emergency authorities. The action mattered because Congress receives formal notice when presidents use emergency powers to expand sanctions programs, creating a paper trail for oversight of foreign-policy tools that can freeze property and restrict entry.