National Farm Security Action Plan Takes Aim at Chinese Influence

National Farm Security, President Donald Trump’s administration has launched an aggressive, far-reaching initiative to defend America’s agriculture and biotechnology sectors from foreign interference. The National Farm Security Action Plan, announced on Tuesday, aims to curb China’s growing foothold on U.S. soil — literally and figuratively.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Trade Advisor Peter Navarro, outlined a comprehensive crackdown on foreign land ownership, agroterrorism, and research theft.

“This is about national security, not just food security,” Rollins told reporters. “Our farmland and food systems are part of our homeland defense.”

Banning Chinese Nationals From Buying U.S. Farmland

A core tenet of the plan is banning Chinese nationals and entities from purchasing American farmland. Rollins emphasized that this includes plans to “claw back” land already purchased by adversaries.

Currently, Chinese nationals own over 265,000 acres of U.S. farmland, much of it near strategic military installations from Florida to Hawaii. These locations pose surveillance risks through the use of drones, infrared, and radar technology.

Attorney General Bondi warned that adversaries were exploiting weak property laws to gain eyes and ears near defense hubs. “This stops now,” she said.

To bolster enforcement, the administration plans to reform the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, increasing civil penalties for fraudulent filings to 25% of the land’s fair market value.

Research Espionage and Agroterrorism Under the Microscope

Trump’s task force is also clamping down on foreign research partnerships in agriculture. At least 700 foreign nationals from countries of concern, including China, will be removed from USDA contracts. Additionally, over 550 entities identified as security threats are facing expulsion from U.S. agricultural research.

The urgency is driven by recent events. Two Chinese researchers were federally charged in June for attempting to smuggle a crop-killing fungus into the U.S. The pair had ties to the Chinese Communist Party, said Bondi, warning, “We’ve opened more than 100 bio-smuggling cases. Enough is enough.”

Rollins confirmed the USDA would end all collaborations with labs tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, including those involved in high-risk avian flu experiments. One program exposed by Sen. Joni Ernst had received nearly $1 million in taxpayer funding.

USDA Partners With DARPA to Build Domestic Innovation

As part of the shift to homegrown innovation, the USDA will partner with DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to enhance agricultural resilience. This collaboration seeks to restore control over biotechnology, food safety, and supply chains, ensuring America leads in food innovation without relying on foreign adversaries.

DARPA’s past research includes a proposal from 2018 that outlined a possible “blueprint” for the virus that caused COVID-19 — a project never funded but flagged for its ties to Wuhan-based researchers.

“We are bringing back American science, American labs, and American control,” Rollins declared.

SNAP Reform Targets Fraud and Foreign Exploitation

The plan also includes a sweeping review of the USDA’s food assistance programs, particularly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The agency will crack down on transnational gangs and fraudulent retailers abusing taxpayer funds.

Bondi said cloning of point-of-sale devices and card skimming has led to significant theft. Under the new guidelines, retailers caught participating in benefit fraud will lose access to federal funding.

With $405 million spent daily on food assistance programs, oversight is a top priority. Rollins noted the administration is working with both Republican and Democrat governors to tighten SNAP operations and protect low-income Americans from organized fraud.

Mapping and Securing Agricultural Supply Chains

The USDA will soon release a detailed list of critical agriculture-related supply chain items that are currently sourced from adversarial nations. The administration will then issue recommendations and funding proposals to replace those supply lines with domestic production or allied imports.

“American farmers shouldn’t be dependent on enemies of our country for seed, fertilizer, or equipment,” Navarro said.

China’s Silent War on U.S. Agriculture

Peter Navarro likened China’s strategy to the ideas found in “Unrestricted Warfare,” a Chinese military doctrine that favors economic, technological, and cyber warfare over direct conflict.

“They’re not firing missiles. They’re buying pork producers, stealing seeds, and placing spy shops near our bases,” he said.

He pointed out China’s ownership of Smithfield Foods, a company that controls one-eighth of the world’s pork supply. Though Smithfield’s spokesperson insisted the company is not state-owned and still largely American-run, Navarro said the structure still allows Beijing to exert soft power over U.S. food chains.

Bipartisan Momentum Builds

Rollins highlighted that governors from both parties are taking the lead in addressing farmland security. Republican governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders (AR), Jim Pillen (NE), and Bill Lee (TN) have already passed legislation or pledged support for federal action.

“My hope is this becomes a bipartisan priority,” Rollins said. “We are already working with some Democrat governors on SNAP reform. This is about securing our nation — not scoring political points.”

Final Thoughts: A Turning Point in Farm Security

With the launch of the National Farm Security Action Plan, President Trump’s administration is sending a clear message: America’s soil is not for sale. Through sweeping bans, tighter oversight, and renewed scientific independence, the administration is drawing a red line around national agriculture.

From cracking down on research theft to fortifying food aid from fraud, the initiative represents a new era in food sovereignty and biosecurity — one where American farmers, families, and the military can breathe easier.

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