Bipartisan Support Grows for New USDA Action Plan Targeting Foreign Threats to U.S. Farmland and Food Supply
The Trump administration unveiled a sweeping new initiative yesterday to protect U.S. agriculture from foreign interference, positioning food and farmland security as a cornerstone of national defense. Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the National Farm Security Action Plan is the latest pillar in Rollins’ Make Agriculture Great Again initiative.
The plan comes amid growing concerns over foreign ownership of American farmland and emerging threats such as agroterrorism, cyberattacks, and the infiltration of research facilities by hostile actors—including the recent DOJ case involving a Chinese Communist Party member caught smuggling a destructive crop fungus into the U.S.
“We feed the world. We lead the world. And we’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, our labs, or our livelihoods,” said Secretary Rollins. “This Action Plan puts America’s farmers, families, and future first—exactly where they belong.”
Bipartisan Momentum Building
The plan has attracted support from a wide array of national leaders across party lines. US Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) expressed strong support responding, “I hope many would agree the Chinese government and other U.S. adversaries should own ZERO agricultural land in our great country. This is really a national security issue + also a food security issue. Proud to partner with @SenatorRicketts on this.”
Meanwhile, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), stated unequivocally, “I will reintroduce my bill to BAN Chinese ownership of American farmland and American homes” expressing strong backing for the effort to protect American farmland from foreign ownership.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) warned that “in my state of Alabama, we have the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned land in the U.S. with 2.2 million acres,” calling the trend “disastrous for our national security.” Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) echoed the urgency, stating, “Farm security is national security…before it is too late.”
In a strong show of bipartisan unity, state and federal officials—from Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig—also applauded the USDA’s leadership. Notably, states like Arkansas and Iowa have already passed laws to limit foreign ownership of farmland and are now calling for consistent national standards.
An Issue of National Security
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the implications for U.S. military readiness, saying, “Foreign ownership of land near strategic bases poses a serious threat to our national security. The Farm Security Plan will put America First and keep our bases across the homeland secure.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tied food independence directly to American sovereignty: “A country that cannot feed itself cannot take care of itself…We will never let any other country control our food supply.”
Next Steps and Implementation
The plan outlines a coordinated federal and state response, aiming to weave agricultural protection into broader national security policy. DOJ will continue prosecuting agroterrorism and foreign interference cases, while USDA pledges full transparency on land ownership and tighter enforcement of its programs.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson praised the move: “President Trump is using every tool at his disposal to keep our nation safe, and that includes securing our food supply.”
As foreign adversaries from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increase efforts to exploit America’s food systems, the Trump administration’s Farm Security Action Plan is being hailed as a decisive step in fortifying the homeland from within.
Secretary Rollins summed up the urgency: “Enough is enough. Protecting the homeland begins with protecting our farmland.”