Title 50 — War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§3171 Stay of sanctions

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 44— - NATIONAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS LAWS TO INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES › § 3171

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can pause U.S. economic, cultural, diplomatic, or other sanctions on a foreign country, group, or person. The President must report to Congress under section 3173 and may only pause if acting now would seriously risk harming an active criminal investigation or exposing an intelligence source or method tied to the same activity. Any pause can last up to 120 days unless it is extended under section 3172.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §3171

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding any provision of law identified in section 3174 of this title, the President may stay the imposition of an economic, cultural, diplomatic, or other sanction or related action by the United States Government concerning a foreign country, organization, or person when the President determines and reports to Congress in accordance with section 3173 of this title that to proceed without delay would seriously risk the compromise of an ongoing criminal investigation directly related to the activities giving rise to the sanction or an intelligence source or method directly related to the activities giving rise to the sanction. Any such stay shall be effective for a period of time specified by the President, which period may not exceed 120 days, unless such period is extended in accordance with section 3172 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 441 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 3171

Title 50 — War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73