Trump admin. lifts sanctions on Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's acting president
The Trump administration has lifted sanctions on Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez, according to the Treasury Department, as the U.S. seeks to rebuild ties with the Venezuelan government.
Updated on: April 1, 2026 / 7:09 PM EDT / CBS News
The rollback comes just three months after U.S. forces seized Rodriguez' predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife in a daring special forces raid . Both were extradited to New York to face drug trafficking charges and have since pleaded not guilty.
The deletion of Rodriguez's name from the so-called Specially Designated Nationals list will allow her to access certain blocked assets and deal with U.S.-based enterprises. It's the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to normalize relations with Venezuela, which the U.S. has not had formal diplomatic relations with since 2019.
Last month, the U.S. formally recognized Rodriguez as Venezuela's leader and began taking steps to reopen the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Mr. Trump has praised Rodriguez, saying last month she is "doing a great job" and is "working with U.S. Representatives very well."
Since Maduro's removal from power, the administration has sought to incentivize U.S. investment in Venezuela's oil sector, rolling back sanctions to allow American oil companies to spend on infrastructure and production. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have also led delegations to Venezuela, which holds the world's largest oil reserves.