U.S. Secretary Rollins: Chinese Farmland Ownership a 'Massive National Security Issue,' New Restrictions Announced

Washington D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins this week declared that Chinese ownership of American farmland constitutes a "massive national security issue," as the Trump administration unveiled a comprehensive plan to restrict such acquisitions. The announcement, made during a press conference at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 8, 2025, highlights growing concerns over foreign influence on the nation's food supply and strategic assets.

"Obviously, the Chinese owning of farmland in our country is a massive national security issue," Secretary Rollins stated, emphasizing the urgency of the new measures. The USDA's "National Farm Security Action Plan" aims to protect American agriculture from foreign threats, particularly from adversarial nations.

The new plan outlines seven critical areas of focus, including securing and protecting American farmland through increased transparency and tougher penalties for non-compliance. It also seeks to enhance agricultural supply chain resilience, protect the U.S. nutrition safety net from fraud, defend agricultural research from foreign exploitation, and safeguard plant and animal health against biothreats. Secretary Rollins stated, "We’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, our labs, or our livelihoods."

While Chinese investors own a relatively small fraction of U.S. farmland—approximately 265,000 acres, less than 1% of total foreign-held agricultural land—concerns have mounted due to the proximity of some holdings to military bases and alleged biosecurity threats. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted the importance of understanding why foreign entities acquire land near U.S. military installations. Recent incidents, such as charges against foreign nationals for smuggling a noxious fungus into the U.S., underscore the administration's focus on agricultural espionage.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning condemned the U.S. restrictions as "discriminatory" and a violation of international trade rules. Beijing asserted that the U.S. is "overstretching the concept of national security" and urged an immediate halt to the politicization of economic and trade issues. The Chinese Embassy in Washington added that Chinese investments contribute to local jobs and growth, and such actions would undermine confidence in the U U.S. market.

The federal initiative builds upon existing state-level actions, with states like Arkansas, Florida, and Montana having already enacted laws limiting foreign ownership of agricultural land, particularly near sensitive sites. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was present at the USDA announcement, highlighted her state's move to force Chinese-owned Syngenta to divest its farmland. The USDA also indicated that a "claw back" plan for existing Chinese-owned land is under serious consideration, with fines for non-disclosure set to increase significantly.