Establishing a Task Force to Strengthen “Know Your Customer” Synthesis Screening

The Council on Strategic Risks proposes that the next US administration create a task force with a 9-month deadline to recommend a structure for a centralized "Know Your Customer" (KYC) entity for nucleic acid synthesis screening. While the 2024 White House "Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening" requires screening for federally funded programs, the author argues that a centralized approach is needed to address gaps in private industry and non-federally funded research. The proposal suggests the task force determine if the entity should be a government office, public-private partnership, or private entity, and recommends formally designating the FBI as the lead agency for investigating suspicious orders via its WMD coordinators.

• The author recommends the next US administration establish a task force to determine the structure and pathway for a "know your customer" (KYC) entity for nucleic acid synthesis screening, with a deadline of 9 months for recommendations.
• Current US guidance, specifically the White House "Framework for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening" issued in early 2024, mandates screening and reporting for federally funded programs but is only suggested for others, leaving a gap in coverage for private industry and non-federally funded research.
• The document proposes that the FBI be formally identified as the lead federal agency with investigative authority for suspicious orders, specifically by resourcing FBI weapons of mass destruction (WMD) coordinator positions.
• The proposed task force should evaluate whether the KYC entity is best structured as a private entity, a public-private partnership, or a government office, while considering a sustainable funding model to avoid budget variability.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2025). Establishing a Task Force to Strengthen “Know Your Customer” Synthesis Screening. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/01/31/biosecurity-in-the-next-administration/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Establishing a Task Force to Strengthen “Know Your Customer” Synthesis Screening. 2025. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/01/31/biosecurity-in-the-next-administration/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Establishing a Task Force to Strengthen “Know Your Customer” Synthesis Screening |date=31 January 2025 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/01/31/biosecurity-in-the-next-administration/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2025establishing, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Establishing a Task Force to Strengthen “Know Your Customer” Synthesis Screening}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/01/31/biosecurity-in-the-next-administration/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }