Syria Emergency Renewed Again, Even as Syria Sanctions Have Mostly Been Lifted

October 2, 2026

The President has renewed for one more year the Syria-related national emergency first declared in October 2019. Without a renewal notice, the emergency would have ended automatically on Oct. 14, 2026. Keeping it alive preserves the legal basis for the targeted sanctions that remain after Washington dismantled the broad Syria sanctions program.

Sources

• Federal Register, FR Doc. 2026-20322 (91 FR 63131): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/02/2026-20322/continuation-of-the-national-emergency-with-respect-to-the-situation-in-and-in-relation-to-syria
• GovInfo PDF: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-02/pdf/2026-20322.pdf
• National Emergencies Act §202(d), 50 U.S.C. 1622: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/1622
• Underlying orders: EO 13894 (Oct. 14, 2019) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/17/2019-22849/blocking-property-and-suspending-entry-of-certain-persons-contributing-to-the-situation-in-syria ; EO 14142 (Jan. 15, 2025) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/17/2025-01437/taking-additional-steps-with-respect-to-the-situation-in-syria ; EO 14312 (June 30, 2025) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/03/2025-12506/providing-for-the-revocation-of-syria-sanctions (also https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/providing-for-the-revocation-of-syria-sanctions/)
• Prior-year continuation (Sept. 30, 2025; 90 FR 47967): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/02/2025-19458/continuation-of-the-national-emergency-with-respect-to-the-situation-in-and-in-relation-to-syria
• Treasury OFAC, Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions (PAARSS) program page: https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/paarss
• State/Treasury advisory, “Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria,” updated August 2026 (OFAC-hosted copy): https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/934736/download