The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the Foundation for Global Political Exchange recently announced that they reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In late 2022, OFAC asserted that it could restrict American groups from organizing political discussions that included sanctioned individuals or groups. In December 2023, the Knight Institute filed a complaint with the Exchange Foundation, arguing that OFAC’s position exceeded its authority and violated the First Amendment.

As part of the settlement, OFAC has issued a letter to the Foundation for Global Political Exchange making clear that including sanctioned individuals in political dialogues, whether in person or online, is not prohibited by U.S. sanctions. The settlement will also enable other organizations to foster political dialogue without fear of prosecution.

During the first half of the discussion, those involved in the case from the Knight Institute and the Foundation for Global Political Exchange will discuss the case, its process, and the outcome. We will then turn to humanitarian and peacebuilding experts to share their thoughts on how the settlement will impact the sector.