Biden administration allows Chevron to pay Venezuela millions

The Biden administration has quietly allowed Chevron to pay millions to the Venezuelan government, despite existing sanctions. This was done through a waiver established in 2022, which aimed to keep Chevron's operations within legal boundaries while also assisting Venezuela's economy. Sources familiar with the situation say this supplement to the sanctions waiver let Chevron make essential payments to the Maduro administration, including taxes and oil royalties. The original waiver from the Treasury Department allowed Chevron to operate but banned it from making such payments. Last year, Chevron reported about $300 million in accrued taxes to Venezuelan authorities. Chevron is currently the only major U.S. oil company still active in Venezuela. Other companies left after a series of nationalizations in the 2000s. Under the Trump administration, sanctions halted Chevron's operations, but the Biden administration struck a deal in 2022 that aimed to encourage democratic elections in Venezuela in exchange for allowing Chevron to resume work. However, critics say President Nicolás Maduro has not followed through on democratic promises. He has faced allegations of undermining opposition candidates and committing widespread arrests. U.S. officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, have voiced concern that Chevron's payments are propping up Maduro's regime without leading to meaningful reforms. Biden's team is reportedly considering extending a deadline for Chevron to conclude its operations in Venezuela. Any taxes and royalties from Chevron may need to be allocated for funding migrant deportations, rather than directly benefiting Maduro’s government.