U.S. Department of State :The Week at State: April 17 - April 23, 2026

 

April 17 – April 23 President Trump and the First Lady will be welcoming the King and Queen of the United Kingdom for a historic royal visit to the White House April 27-30. Here’s what happened at State this week.  New PEPFAR data shows the impact of the America First Global Health Strategy. The U.S. disrupted Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs procurement networks. The United States imposed new visa restrictions on individuals linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The United States deployed sanctions against fentanyl networks. Two reward offers targeted cyber scammers in Southeast Asia. PEPFAR Data Shows Success of Global Health Strategy The latest data from PEPFAR shows the America First Global Health Strategy is saving lives while protecting taxpayer dollars. The U.S. government supported programs providing anti-retroviral treatment for 20.6 million people living with HIV in more than 50 countries, according to the data covering July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025. Additionally, the program started 103,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women on pre-exposure prophylaxis, more than doubling the figures from the previous year. This doubling represents early progress toward the President’s goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. United States Disrupts Iranian Procurement Networks On April 21, the United States imposed sanctions on eight individuals and four entities operating procurement networks that support Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs. The U.S. also sanctioned Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline. The United States designated two aircraft as blocked property of Mahan Air, which has historically transported IRGC operatives, weapons, and funds.  “The United States will continue to use all available means to expose, disrupt, and counter Iran’s threatening activities to protect America’s interests,” said Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott.  Restricting Visas of Narco-Terrorists On April 20, the Department of State imposed visa restrictions on 75 people who are either family members, close personal friends, or business associates of people linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. “President Trump is using the full power of the United States to eradicate narco-terrorist cartels operating in our hemisphere,” Secretary Rubio said.  The restrictions serve as a deterrent to continued illicit activities and prevent those connected to the cartel—a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization—from entering the United States. U.S. Targets Supply Chains of Fentanyl Networks The United States is deploying targeted economic sanctions to disrupt a transnational criminal network fueling America’s illicit fentanyl crisis. The network spans India, Guatemala, and Mexico and supplies chemicals used in making fentanyl to Mexico-based Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Sinaloa Cartel. The Sinaloa cartel poses an extraordinary threat not only to the United States, but to the stability and security of the entire region.  The Trump Administration is committed to making America safe again and will use all tools necessary to protect American lives, disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and deny these dangerous networks access to the resources they need to operate. U.S. Offers Rewards for Disrupting Scammers The Department of State has announced two reward offers to combat cyber scam operations based in Southeast Asia. These schemes, often involving cryptocurrency investment fraud, resulted in an estimated $7.2B loss for Americans in 2025. The first offer provides up to $10 million for information leading to the seizure or recovery of funds laundered by the Tai Chang scam centers in Burma.  The second offer provides up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest of Daren Li, a fugitive convicted in the U.S. for laundering over $73.6 million in scam proceeds through shell companies and digital assets. News You May Have Missed The U.S. supported Costa Rica in the seizure of a large shipment of cocaine headed to the United States. The United States and Bolivia signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding on fighting infectious diseases. Secretary Rubio announced the designation of Nicaraguan Vice Minister of the Interior Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa for gross violation of human rights. We convened U.S. maritime industry leaders and Caribbean port authorities to advance commercial diplomacy and safeguard critical infrastructure in the Caribbean. The U.S. welcomed Latvia’s signing of the Artemis Accords, pledging its commitment to peaceful exploration and use of space.   Note to Our Readers  We welcome feedback at EmailTeam@state.gov  Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to The Week at State for weekly updates on important work, activities, and news straight from the State Department. Useful links Travel advisories and updates for U.S. Citizens Did you know that you can invite a State Department official to speak at your school, business, or organization? Learn about what we do through the firsthand experience of one of our representatives.  Read More at State.gov

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