OFAC Counter-Terrorism Sanctions

Sanctions targeting terrorist organizations, their financiers, and facilitators under Executive Order 13224, with SDGT designations on the SDN List.

TL;DR

TL;DR: Counter-terrorism sanctions under Executive Order 13224 block terrorist groups, their financiers, and facilitators, with SDGT designations appearing on the SDN List. Screening catches these parties and their funding networks.

What the program targets

Executive Order 13224 authorizes designations against terrorist organizations, their financiers, and the facilitators who move their money. These Specially Designated Global Terrorist, or SDGT, entries appear on the SDN List alongside other designations. Because the program targets funding networks as much as the groups themselves, facilitators are a key focus.

Why it matters for agent payments

Terrorist financing often runs through intermediaries and crypto wallets to avoid detection, which is exactly the kind of activity an automated payment system could be used for. Screening the counterparty and the destination wallet against the SDN List before paying is the control that stops those funds. An agent that screens every payment closes a channel these networks would otherwise exploit.

What screening catches

• SDGT-designated organizations and individuals
• Financiers and facilitators
• Associated wallets

The SDGT designation

The SDGT designation is the tool that puts a terrorist actor onto the SDN List, and it carries the same blocking effect as any other listing. Because SDGT designations can target financiers and facilitators, not only fighters, the list includes people and entities whose role is financial. Screening against the SDN List catches these parties, and the destination wallet check catches the addresses they use to receive funds.