Trump declares national emergency to protect Venezuelan funds in the U.S.
This is money belonging to PDVSA and the Central Bank, held in the Treasury.
It cannot be seized by courts or used to pay debts.
According to the order:
• These are funds from the sale of natural resources, deposited in the Treasury in the name of PDVSA, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), and other state entities.
• They are declared sovereign property of the Venezuelan state and cannot be seized, transferred, or used to pay debts, except with express authorization.
• The Treasury will hold them exclusively for public and diplomatic purposes, under the direction of the State Department.
• The U.S. states that allowing their seizure would jeopardize its national security and foreign policy.
• Any attempt to seize them will be invalid, even if there are prior orders to the contrary.
Why does this matter?
Venezuela stopped paying its external debt in late 2017. Several creditors have tried to collect using these funds.
With this order, he legally blocks that route and
asserts total control over those assets.
Malos10
npub17a…5nldk
2026-01-13 12:06:13 UTC
Author Public Key
npub17amtesfzwxl8nlr3ke2l8jl7kw52z60n8msnxh7vps3g9xgpmf9qx5nldkPublished at
2026-01-13 12:06:13 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "Trump declares national emergency to protect Venezuelan funds in the U.S.\nThis is money belonging to PDVSA and the Central Bank, held in the Treasury.\n\nIt cannot be seized by courts or used to pay debts.\n\nAccording to the order:\n\n• These are funds from the sale of natural resources, deposited in the Treasury in the name of PDVSA, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), and other state entities.\n\n• They are declared sovereign property of the Venezuelan state and cannot be seized, transferred, or used to pay debts, except with express authorization.\n\n• The Treasury will hold them exclusively for public and diplomatic purposes, under the direction of the State Department.\n\n• The U.S. states that allowing their seizure would jeopardize its national security and foreign policy.\n\n• Any attempt to seize them will be invalid, even if there are prior orders to the contrary.\n\nWhy does this matter?\n\nVenezuela stopped paying its external debt in late 2017. Several creditors have tried to collect using these funds.\n\nWith this order, he legally blocks that route and\nasserts total control over those assets.",
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}