Gregory Korte

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration eased U.S. sanctions against Russia Thursday, giving a specific exemption for the Russian spy agency implicated in hacking the Democratic National Committee e-mails.

The "general license" applies to the Federal Security Service, or FSB, allowing Americans to do business with the spy agency as long as payments do not amount to more than $5,000 a year.

The Treasury Department and the White House would not immediately explain the general license.

President Obama impose additional sanctions on Russia in December in retaliation what intelligence officials said was a concerted effort by President Vladimir Putin to interfere in the U.S. election and get Trump elected.