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> U.S. government–funded scientists who make and manipulate DNA sequences will face tougher regulations

Seems like this has little to do with deterring terrorism then, considering the assumption that a terrorist may not be a US government funded scientist.

My guess is that the assumption is that US gov funded labs are enough of many suppliers revenue that it'll be effective, but I'm 100% speculating and it may be total garbage speculation given that I have no idea how much hobbyist level DNA projects are a thing or how much they're a thing for non-medicinal business purposes.
If you read the next two sentences it makes it fairly obvious that this is a plan to indirectly target suppliers. Federally funded researchers will be required to

"procure synthetic nucleic acids and benchtop synthesis equipment from U.S.-approved suppliers. Those vendors must verify their customers’ identities and screen orders for potentially dangerous sequences that, for example, could encode toxins or pathogens."

If this was just about feds self-policing, they wouldn't have the customer identity requirement.

Probably they're taking this route because AI is moving fast and Congress moves slowly.

Trouble is, that assumption hasn't always worked out in the past: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Edwards_Ivins

But yes, this is stupid. No one who is inclined to build a biological WMD is going to be more than mildly inconvenienced by supply restrictions. DNA isn't plutonium.

Sounds like a fully general argument against any sort of security measure. "A dedicated thief won't be deterred by a lock or burglar alarm." Sure. I'm still buying that stuff.
More like, Danny Ocean isn't going to be fazed by your ADT Security sign out front or the Ring camera on your door.
loading story #50452143
When DNA is outlawed only outlaws will have DNA.
Considering what we know about crowding-out in human microbiomes, this is probably way more relevant than the meme you were likely swinging for!