Who manages the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list?

The Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list is managed by the Department of State (DOS). This designation serves several important purposes, including restricting the resources and support available to these groups and facilitating the prosecution of individuals and organizations that provide support to them. The Department of State assesses organizations based on various criteria, including their involvement in premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets, primarily intended to influence an audience. By holding this responsibility, the Department of State plays a crucial role in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts and foreign policy.

The other agencies, while they may have roles in intelligence gathering, law enforcement, or military action against terrorist threats, do not have the formal authority to maintain the FTO list. The Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency, for instance, focus more on military and intelligence strategies, respectively, but do not handle the official designation of terrorist organizations, which is specifically a function of the Department of State.