WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government lifted sanctions on Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez, according to an Office of Foreign Assets Control entry on the Treasury Department website. The U.S. government has formally recognized Rodríguez as Venezuela's head of state in legal and diplomatic settings.

Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodríguez were sanctioned by the U.S. government during President Trump's first term for their roles in allegedly undermining Venezuelan democracy. The siblings and other members of Nicolás Maduro's inner circle were added to the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions list in September 2018.

"Maduro has given Delcy Eloina Rodríguez Gomez and Jorge Jesus Rodríguez Gomez senior positions within the Venezuelan government to help him maintain power and solidify his authoritarian rule," the Treasury Department stated when imposing the 2018 sanctions.

Opposition politicians and parties were banned from participating in the 2018 Venezuelan presidential contest.

Rodríguez has led Venezuela's cooperation with the Trump administration by promoting international investment and opening the country to private capital, international arbitration and scrutiny.

Venezuela's ruling-party-loyal high court declared Nicolás Maduro's absence temporary after the January 3 operation. The court's declaration eliminated the need for a speedy election and preserved the protections of the presidential office under international law.

The high court ordered Rodríguez to serve as acting president for up to 90 days with the possibility of extension to six months if approved by the National Assembly. Venezuela's National Assembly is controlled by the ruling party and is presided over by Jorge Rodríguez.

Nicolás Maduro remains the legally recognized president of Venezuela.