Safeguarding American soil: The U.S. bans Chinese ownership of farmland amid rising national security concerns

07/12/2025 / By Belle Carter

On July 8, the U.S. announced a ban on Chinese ownership of American farmland, driven by growing concerns over foreign influence on U.S. agriculture.
The announcement was made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. It was met with strong support from lawmakers like Rep. Dan Newhouse and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, who emphasized the need for a comprehensive government approach to address the issue.
The USDA’s national security action plan includes implementing an online filing system for foreign entities to report their U.S. agricultural holdings and transactions. The plan also involves working with Congress and state governments to pass laws prohibiting foreign purchase or control of American farmland by countries of concern and coordinating with the Department of the Treasury and CFIUS on foreign transaction reviews.
The plan extends beyond ownership to enhance agricultural supply chain resilience, protect food stamp programs from fraud and safeguard plant and animal health. These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the long-term security and prosperity of the American agricultural sector.
The success of these reforms will depend on effective legislation, enforcement and transparency. As the U.S. moves forward, it must balance security needs with open market principles and international cooperation.

The United States announced on July 8 that it will ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made the announcement during a press conference with top officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The issue of Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland has been a simmering concern for years, but it gained renewed attention after a 2024 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed significant gaps in the government’s understanding of foreign land ownership. The report highlighted that U.S. agencies were largely in the dark about the extent of Chinese ownership, raising alarms about potential threats to food security and the nation’s agricultural supply chain.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) expressed deep concern, stating, “This report confirms one of our worst fears: that not only is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unable to answer the question of who owns what land and where, but that there is no plan by the department to internally reverse this dangerous flaw that affects our supply chain and economy.”

His sentiments were echoed by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who emphasized the need for a “whole of government approach” to address the issue.

The national security plan

The national security action plan released by the USDA outlines several key reforms. According to the plan, obtained by the Epoch Times, the USDA will implement an online filing system to require foreign entities to report their holdings and transactions in the U.S. agricultural marketplace.

The USDA will also work with Congress and state governments to pass and implement laws that prohibit the direct or indirect purchase or control of American farmland by nationals from countries of concern or other foreign adversaries. Additionally, the USDA will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Treasury to ensure regular coordination with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) on reviews of foreign transactions involving the agriculture sector.

During the press conference, Rollins announced that she will sit on CFIUS, a panel that reviews foreign purchases for national security risks, beginning July 8. At a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Rollins emphasized the larger implications of protecting American agriculture.

“Protecting America’s farms isn’t just about protecting our farmers. It’s also about national security,” she said. Rollins acknowledged the leadership role that states have taken in banning the purchasing of farmland by China and called on Congress to “step up and catch up.” (Related: Foreign entities now own 40 MILLION ACRES of U.S. agricultural land.)

Broader implications

The national security plan extends beyond just addressing foreign ownership. It also focuses on enhancing agricultural supply chain resilience, protecting food stamp programs from fraud and abuse and safeguarding plant and animal health. These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the long-term security and prosperity of the American agricultural sector.

The decision to ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland is a significant step in addressing longstanding concerns over foreign influence on American agriculture. While the move is driven by national security considerations, it also reflects a broader recognition of the interconnectedness of economic, agricultural and security issues. As the U.S. moves forward with these reforms, it will be crucial for the government to balance the need for security with the principles of open markets and international cooperation.

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Safeguarding American soil: The U.S. bans Chinese ownership of farmland amid rising national security concerns

The national security plan

Broader implications

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