Recalibrating the U.S. State Department's Role in Economic Sanctions

Authors

  • Brad Brooks-Rubin Arktouros / CSIS Author
  • Richard Nephew Columbia University image/svg+xml Author

Abstract

The article examines how the State Department has increasingly taken on operational roles in sanctions implementation over the past 25 years, arguing this shift has undermined its strategic foreign policy functions. The authors propose restructuring sanctions authority between Treasury and State.

Author Biographies

  • Brad Brooks-Rubin, Arktouros / CSIS
    Brad Brooks-Rubin is a Partner at Arktouros law firm and senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He previously worked as senior advisor in the Office of the Sanctions Coordinator at State Department.
  • Richard Nephew, Columbia University
    Richard Nephew is a senior research scholar and adjunct professor at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy. He previously served as Principal Deputy Sanctions Coordinator at the State Department and authored The Art of Sanctions.

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Published

2026-01-07

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026): Issue 2

Section

Insight