President Extends Colombia Narcotics Trafficking Emergency for One Year

On October 15, 2026, the President issued a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia. The notice was published in the Federal Register, Volume 91, Number 200, on Monday, October 19, 2026 (FR Doc 2026-21430), and transmitted to Congress.

The emergency was originally declared by Executive Order 12978 on October 21, 1995 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, citing an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States' national security, foreign policy, and economy. The notice reiterates that the actions of the traffickers continue to pose that same threat.

Pursuant to section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), the President is extending the emergency for one year, meaning the emergency will remain in effect beyond October 21, 2026, through October 21, 2027. The extension preserves the President's IEEPA authorities to regulate transactions and impose sanctions related to Colombian narcotics traffickers.

The continuation binds all agencies and persons subject to IEEPA powers, including the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the State Department, and other entities that enforce sanctions. It also signals that any regulatory actions, licensing decisions, or enforcement measures taken under the emergency remain authorized for the additional year.

The notice does not amend the underlying executive order but merely extends its temporal scope. No new policy changes are announced; the continuation is procedural, ensuring that the legal framework remains in place while the threat assessment persists.