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19:27 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump on Monday extended a soon-to-expire executive order targeting terrorism financing, saying the United States still faces an "unusual and extraordinary threat" from terrorism.
The Executive Order 13224, originally created by former President George W. Bush in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, gives broad authority to target financial support networks for terrorists and terrorist organization.
It authorizes the US government to block assets and confiscate the property of foreign individuals and entities that commit or pose a risk of committing terrorism and those of individuals and entities providing material support or financial assistance to designated terrorists.
In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and President of the Senate, Vice-President Mike Pence released by the White House, Trump asserted the extension, set to expire next week, was necessary due to the continued threat terrorism posed to the country.
"The continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on US nationals or the US that lead to the declaration of a national emergency has not been resolved," Trump wrote, calling the crisis an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the US".
The Executive Order, considered the Treasury Departments cornerstone sanctions programs, has been renewed every year for the past sixteen years since it was enacted without fail.(end)
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