Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has criticized the Biden Administration for its approach to sanctions enforcement, describing it as a "strategy of appeasement." Speaking during a Senate hearing featuring Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senator Britt expressed alarm over the lax enforcement policy, particularly in light of recent atrocities committed by Hamas and Iran's financing of terrorist groups.

During the hearing, Senator Britt raised concerns about the harmful effects of rulemaking proposals by federal financial regulators on Main Street America. Secretary Yellen acknowledged the validity of Senator Britt's concerns but noted that the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) was not currently evaluating the cumulative costs or risks of these rulemakings.

Senator Britt also highlighted the Biden Administration's failure to take decisive action in response to the attacks carried out by Hamas and Iran's continued support for terrorist groups. She questioned Secretary Yellen about the administration's knowledge of the financiers behind the October 7 attacks and criticized the response as "too little, too late."

Secretary Yellen defended the Treasury Department's actions, stating that they had been focused on Hamas and other similar organizations prior to the attacks. She emphasized that the administration had taken additional actions and cracked down on Iran's oil shipments, petrochemical sector, and steel industry.

However, Senator Britt expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's approach, stating, "It's not working. We have to go back to a [strategy] of maximum [pressure]." She emphasized the need for strength in dealing with Iran and preventing further attacks on American civilians and servicemembers.

This is not the first time Senator Britt has voiced concerns about the Biden Administration's sanctions policy. In a previous Senate hearing, she helped lead questioning on enforcement actions against Iran and their financial networks. She also highlighted the administration's inadequate use of existing tools to financially constrain Iran, which has profited more than $80 billion from oil sales since President Biden took office.

Senator Britt has sent multiple letters to Secretary Yellen and the Biden Administration expressing her concerns about sanctions on Iran and the pattern of appeasement. She has also joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling for strong enforcement of sanctions against Iran's illicit oil trade.

The video of Senator Britt's line of questioning during the hearing can be viewed here. High-quality video footage is available for media usage.

In conclusion, Senator Katie Britt has criticized the Biden Administration for its "strategy of appeasement" in sanctions enforcement. She has expressed concerns about the harmful effects of rulemaking proposals and the administration's inadequate response to terrorist attacks. Senator Britt has called for a return to a strategy of maximum pressure and has actively advocated for stronger sanctions on Iran.