Barack Obama Declared A National Emergency 11 Times During His Presidency
Barack Obama declared 11 national emergencies during his two terms as president, almost all of which remain in effect — although the practical implications of some of them are minimal at this point. A chronological list of the national emergencies declared by Obama, and what their current status means in a practical sense, follows.
October 23, 2009: Proclamation 8443, Declaration of a National Emergency With Respect to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic(Ended October 23, 2010)
Gave the Secretary of Human Services to issue waivers to hospitals allowing them to move patients with swine flu (H1N1) to satellite facilities or other hospitals, for a period of one year.
April 12, 2010: Executive Order 13536, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Somalia
At the time, Somali pirates terrorized the waters off the coast of East Africa and elsewhere in the Indian and Pacific oceans, threatening the flow of oil and other goods. This order, according to the law firm Seward & Kissell, names 12 individuals and entities that were/are believed to be contributing — financially or materially — to Somali piracy. The order also lays out penalties for American individuals and businesses that contribute to them, or support them.
February 25, 2011: Executive Order 13566, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya
Following an incident in which Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi ordered his government to kill protesters, this order, per the White House, froze the assets of Gaddafi and his family — and opened the door to prosecuting him and his associates for war crimes.
July 24, 2011: Executive Order 13581, Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations
Per the White House, this order froze the assets of four criminal organizations — Italian mafiosos La Camorra, Mexican drug cartel Los Zatos, international drug cartel the Brother’s Circle, and Japanese crime syndicate the Yakuza — and prevents them from owning U.S. property, among other sanctions.
Ex-GOP lawmaker: We would be "storming the White House" if Obama thought about declaring national emergency https://t.co/TVurZ9hCuZ pic.twitter.com/g8TAzABtqy
— The Hill (@thehill) January 10, 2019
May 16, 2012: Executive Order 13611, Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen
According to the United States Treasury Department, this order names two individuals believed to have provided financial or other support to agencies contributing to unrest in Yemen. Further, this order freezes their assets, and bars Americans from doing business with — or contributing to — them.
March 6, 2014: Executive Order 13660, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine
Per the United States Treasury Department, this order names 133 individuals believed to have provided financial or other support to, or to have been involved in, violence in Ukraine. This order freezes the assets of these individuals, and bars Americans from doing business with, or contributing to, them.
April 3, 2014: Executive Order 13664, Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to South Sudan
According to the United States Treasury Department, this order names two individuals believed to have provided financial or other support to, or to have been involved in, the civil war in South Sudan. The order further freezes the assets of these individuals, and bars Americans from doing business with or contributing to them.
May 12, 2014: Executive Order 13667, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Central African Republic
Per the Homeland Security Digital Library, this order imposed sanctions against former Central African Republic president François Bozizé, following his actions during a coup that deposed him.
Obama extends the post-9/11 state of national emergency for a 16th year: https://t.co/ZZcjP1p0Vc pic.twitter.com/F3APscofqJ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 9, 2016
March 8, 2015: Executive Order 13692, Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela
According to the Federal Register, this order names seven high-ranking Venezuelan officials believed to have been involved in violence against civilians during anti-government demonstrations, as well as other human rights violations. This order freezes their assets, and bars Americans from doing business with — or contributing to — them.
April 1, 2015: Executive Order 13694, Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities
This order allows the government to seize the assets of anyone suspected of hacking in any way that threatens national security, according to the Hill.
November 22, 2015: Executive Order 13712, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Burundi
Per the White House, this order names four high-level Burundi officials believed to have been involved in violence against civilians during anti-government demonstrations, as well as other human rights violations. This order further freezes their assets, and bars Americans from doing business with, or contributing to, them.
Obama declares hacking a "national emergency":http://t.co/VVCUEn2VPD pic.twitter.com/Q1jIVHzjKw
— Motherboard (@motherboard) April 1, 2015
