Trump signs Cuba sanctions executive order targeting repression, security threats

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2026 — President Donald Trump on Friday signed a new executive order expanding the United States sanctions framework against Cuba, authorizing blocking sanctions against foreign persons linked to repression, corruption, support for the Cuban government and activity in key sectors of the Cuban economy, including energy, defense, metals and mining, financial services and security.

The order states it builds on the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14380 on Jan. 29, 2026, and says the policies and actions of the Government of Cuba continue to pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

The measure authorizes sanctions on foreign persons determined to operate in specified sectors of the Cuban economy; act for or on behalf of the Government of Cuba or blocked persons; materially assist those actors; serve as senior officials or board members of sanctioned entities; engage in serious human rights abuse or Cuba-related corruption; or qualify as certain adult family members of designated persons. The order also suspends entry into the United States for covered persons.

In a notable escalation, the order authorizes the Treasury secretary, in consultation with the secretary of state, to impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions for or on behalf of persons blocked under the order. Available measures include correspondent and payable-through account restrictions, or full blocking sanctions.

The order preserves existing authorizations under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, stating that activities licensed under 31 C.F.R. Part 515 remain unaffected. That suggests the administration intends to widen designation authority while leaving current licensing channels formally in place, at least for now.