Center on Economic and Financial Power
About
FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power promotes strategies and policies to bolster an effective economic security framework that deters America’s adversaries and protects U.S. national security objectives.
With rogue states – including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – threatening the integrity of the global financial system and increasingly employing offensive economic tools to challenge American interests, CEFP’s cutting-edge research is aimed at sharpening America’s financial toolkit to encourage financial transparency and economic growth while ensuring U.S. dollar primacy.
Experts from CEFP conduct in-depth research, produce timely analyses, and provide policy recommendations on today’s most pressing economic security issues. Key lines of effort include: leveraging U.S. economic power to counter illicit finance and emerging risks, including through financial sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) tools, export controls, and regulatory guardrails; countering kleptocracy and authoritarian corruption; exploring new alliances for economic security; and protecting and “ally-shoring” critical global supply chains in support of U.S. economic interests.
Armed with open-source intelligence, commercial data, and integrated national economic security strategies, CEFP provides research and analysis to government agencies, international partners, the private sector, and NGOs to address the evolving economic challenges posed by adversaries. Leveraging experience in trade, global financial reform, technology, national security, global governance, capital markets, and emerging alliances, CEFP experts work in tandem with FDD’s centers on American power to promote the use of all instruments of U.S. power to strengthen U.S. national security.
CEFP is comprised of a team of FDD domain experts as well as a top-level board of advisors, who provide strategic guidance, help lead initiatives, and promote research.
CEFP experts also analyze and propose new defensive strategies to protect the strength of America’s economy and those of its partners and allies, as well as developing positive strategies for targeted investment and trade promotion. CEFP likewise explores the changing technological landscape to understand its effects on financial transparency and accountability, two principles underpinning the integrity of the international financial system.
Elaine K. Dezenski serves as Senior Director and Head of CEFP. The Hon. Juan C. Zarate, former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combatting Terrorism, serves as the co-founder and Chairman of CEFP and its Board of Advisors. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of FDD, serves as senior counselor and co-founder.
CEFP is one of FDD’s centers on American power, which also include FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power and FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.
CEFP Reports
In-depth research
CEFP Congressional Testimony
CEFP experts regularly testify on Capitol Hill
Experts
Juan C. Zarate
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Iran in Latin America
- Hezbollah
- North Korea
- Russia
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- Cyber
Elaine K. Dezenski
Josh Birenbaum
Mark Dubowitz
- Iran Sanctions
- Iran Human Rights
- Syria
- Iran Missiles
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Hezbollah
- Iran-backed Terrorism
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- Cyber
- Iran Nuclear
Chip Poncy
- Iran
- Iran Sanctions
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- Iran Global Threat Network
Eric B. Lorber
Yaya J. Fanusie
Daniel Glaser
CEFP Board of Advisors
Products
Radical transparency is democracy’s secret weapon to counter China
The Hill
America’s Food Supply Has a Cyber Problem
The Cipher Brief
Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: March
Policy Tracker
Preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon remains Israel’s top priority
The October 7 attack taught Israel that it has no other choice but to confront Iran-backed threats on all fronts, sooner or later.
The Jerusalem Post
Hamas’ South African Support Network
A web of unsanctioned organizations operating in South Africa support and enable the terrorist group free of consequences.
The National Interest
Anger rises over South Africa making millions in US benefits while cozying up to Iran, Russia and Hamas
Fox News
US frees up billions in sanctions relief to Iran as Tehran proxies wreak havoc in region
Fox News
Hamas Patron Qatar Quietly Bankrolling Group Building Medal of Honor Memorial in DC
The Washington Free Beacon
To Build More Missiles, the U.S. Looks to an Ally 10,000 Miles Away
The Wall Street Journal
Events
Expanding the Anti-Corruption Toolkit: FEPA and Beyond
March 12, 2024 | 8:00 am
Fortifying the Crypto Future: U.S. National and Economic Security in the Virtual Realm
January 29, 2024 | 3:15 pm