The Treasury Department announced Thursday it would be scaling back sanctions put forward by Obama on Russian intelligence agency Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti, otherwise known as FSB, despite some Republicans calling for stronger sanctions.

The document released by the department weakens the sanctions Obama put in place by executive order in response to cyberattacks. American businesses will now be able to engage in financial transactions with the FSB, which is sometimes a necessary step in trading with Russia. President Obama first levied these sanctions in April 2015 and strengthened them in late December of 2016 following a comprehensive intelligence report that Russia hacks were intended to interfere in the November election.

The document, technically a "general license," appears to allow trade with FSB, noting it "authorizes certain transactions with the Federal Security Service (aka FSB)." Asked about the move, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that it's common after sanctions have been levied for the administration to "carve out" certain exceptions. He declined to comment further, directing questions to the Treasury Department.

"We're not easing sanctions," Spicer said.

On Twitter, Pete Alexander of NBC News said a source familiar with sanctions called it a "technical fix, planned under Obama, to avoid unintended consequences of cybersanctions."

Regardless of the motivation or the terms used, the text is clear that the additional rules will allow more cooperation with the FSB.

Nikolai Kovalyov, a former director of the FSB, praised the step to the government-owned Tass news agency.



"This is the first step on the way leading to cooperation in the war on terror," he said. "These practical actions indicate that US President Donald Trump has been consistent." "I am truly shocked," said Marie Harf, a former spokesperson for the State Department. "I shouldn't be, after two weeks of foreign policy chaos, but I am."