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EO 14175Executive OrderTrump 47 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 14175

Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization

Defense & SecurityDefense & SecurityTradeTradeEconomy & LaborEconomy & Labor

In simple terms

This executive order directs the Secretary of State to initiate the process of designating Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act, with a required report within 30 days and designation action within 15 days thereafter. It also mandates a post-designation review of USAID partners in Yemen for Houthi ties or insufficient documentation of Houthi abuses, with termination of problematic contracts.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8639

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 90 FR 8639

    Federal Register PDF

  3. Secretary of State designation action due

  4. Secretary of State report on FTO designation due

Market exposure

Policy exposure mapping — not investment advice. Illustrative public companies are incomplete and not recommendations.

Sectors

Shipping & logisticsOil & gasDefense primes

Mechanisms

Ban / prohibitionLicensing

Role pressure

  • AdverseTrading-partner exporter — Yemen-based or Yemen-transiting trade faces heightened risk; Red Sea route uncertainty continues
  • AdverseProject developer — Humanitarian and development contractors in Yemen face contract termination risk under USAID review

Geographies

USOTHER

Exposure dates

  • — Secretary of State designation action due

Illustrative public companies

Curated watchlist matches by sector/role — incomplete; not a recommendation.

LNGCheniere EnergyDACDanaosSHELShellTSLATeslaZTOZTO Express

Confidence: medium · Policy alerts

Key directives

  • Secretary of State to submit FTO designation report within 30 days (by February 21, 2025)
  • Secretary of State to take all appropriate action on designation within 15 days after report (by March 8, 2025)
  • Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to jointly review UN partners, NGOs, and contractors in Yemen for Houthi ties or insufficient abuse documentation
  • USAID Administrator to terminate identified projects, grants, or contracts

Who is ordered

Prior policyRollback

  • otherBiden administration revocation of Houthi FTO designation (2021)

What to expect

Immediate

  • Order sets in motion FTO designation process
  • Secretary of State directed to begin consultations with DNI and Treasury

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of State report due by February 21, 2025 (30 days)
  • Secretary of State designation action due by March 8, 2025 (15 days after report)
  • Potential FTO designation takes effect
  • USAID review of partners for Houthi ties begins

Long term

  • Termination of USAID projects/grants/contracts with problematic partners
  • Potential disruption to humanitarian operations in Yemen
  • Escalated U.S. pressure on Houthi capabilities and resources
  • Sustained impact on Red Sea maritime security and global shipping routes

Risks & tensions

  • Humanitarian access risk: FTO designation may criminalize aid delivery in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, where most population resides
  • USAID partner review criteria (c)(ii) for 'criticizing international efforts' raises potential freedom-of-speech and operational neutrality concerns for NGOs
  • Designation reverses Biden administration's 2021 revocation of FTO designation, marking clear policy reversal
  • Red Sea shipping disruption cited as inflationary driver; designation alone does not directly address maritime security
  • Iran escalation risk: explicit IRGC-QF linkage in preamble signals potential for broader regional confrontation
Executive Order 14175: Designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization · Executive Orders