USDA Unveils Farm Security Action Plan Amid Rising Concerns Over Foreign Land Ownership
Protecting American farmland, food supplies, and national security is the focus of a new, multi-agency initiative unveiled today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Farm Security Action Plan aims to counter emerging threats, particularly those originating from China and other nations, regarding agricultural land ownership and potential risks to the U.S. food system.
Governor Pillen Highlights Nebraska’s Agricultural Perspective
Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska played a prominent role in the national rollout of the plan, held in Washington, D.C. Addressing attendees outside the USDA Whitten Building, Pillen emphasized his unique position as the first governor from Nebraska in a century with a livelihood rooted in agriculture. He underscored the critical link between farm security, food security, and national security, stating, “Farm security equals food security, which equals national security.”
Since taking office, Pillen has prioritized protecting Nebraska’s assets from foreign adversaries, enacting two executive orders and introducing legislation to that effect. Last month, he signed LB644 into law, which specifically prohibits companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from receiving Nebraska state tax credits.
Emerging Threats and the Seven-Point Plan
The USDA’s action plan responds to growing anxieties surrounding the acquisition of substantial amounts of American farmland by individuals and entities connected to the CCP. Speakers at the event detailed a range of emerging threats, including land purchases near sensitive military installations, intellectual property theft, and the potential for bioterrorism.
The seven-point plan, developed in response to these concerns, seeks to address vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector. A senior official stated that the plan represents a coordinated effort to safeguard the nation’s food supply and protect against strategic exploitation.
Broad Bipartisan Support and Concerns Over Past Inaction
The event drew a diverse group of national and state leaders, including Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Counselor Peter Navarro, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Roger Marshall, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson.
Governor Pillen, alongside Governors Lee and Huckabee Sanders, commended the collaborative approach taken by the previous administration in identifying and addressing these challenges. However, a letter signed by Pillen and other members of the America First Governors’ Council expressed strong criticism of past Washington policies, asserting that previous administrations were “too compromised and entangled with CCP interests to act decisively.” The letter warned that Chinese investors currently control “hundreds of thousands of acres” of U.S. agricultural land, posing risks to the food supply, water access, and national security – a “coordinated, strategic effort by the CCP to weaken America from within.”
Governors Unite to Demand Action
In addition to Governor Pillen, the letter supporting the Farm Security Action Plan was signed by Governors Mike Braun (Indiana), Bill Lee (Tennessee), Brad Little (Idaho), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Larry Rhoden (South Dakota), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), and former governors Phil Bryant (Mississippi), Bobby Jindal (Louisiana), and Rick Perry (Texas).
Pillen concluded by emphasizing the importance of unwavering commitment to protecting American land and families, stating, “In agriculture, we risk everything we have every single day to put food on grocery store shelves.” The USDA’s new plan signals a heightened focus on safeguarding the nation’s agricultural interests in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
