USDA Links Farmland Security to Defense

New Plan Targets Foreign Land Ownership to Protect National Security

The USDA has introduced a bold new plan called the National Farm Security Action Plan, designed to safeguard the nation’s food supply and protect national defense.

The strategy focuses on banning farmland purchases by foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The plan’s top priority is to block foreign nationals from buying U.S. farmland and, when necessary, reclaim farmland already owned by adversarial entities. This helps ensure that the United States remains in control of its agricultural production and maintains food independence.

A major concern is farmland owned by foreign entities located near U.S. military bases, which poses a risk to both food production and national defense. Protecting these areas is now a shared goal between the USDA and the Department of Defense.

Defense officials have emphasized the importance of knowing who owns land near strategic bases. This is not only vital for homeland security but also for energy, food, and water security during emergencies.

“We would be asleep at the wheel if we were not fully a party to an effort like [the National Farm Security Action Plan] to ensure that our nation had the food supply it needs,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The USDA will work closely with state governments and Congress to stop direct or indirect land purchases by nationals of countries of concern. The new plan strengthens food resilience while supporting the safety of military infrastructure across the country.

This national plan aligns agriculture policy with national security, emphasizing the role farmland ownership plays in keeping America safe and independent.