U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is actively exploring federal measures to prevent China from acquiring American farmland. This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader strategy to safeguard national security and protect domestic agricultural resources.
The USDA’s concern stems from the increasing trend of foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land, with Chinese entities owning approximately 384,000 acres as of 2021—a 30% increase since 2019.
This surge has raised alarms about potential threats to the U.S. food supply and national security, especially when such acquisitions occur near sensitive military installations.
Several states have already taken action. For instance, South Dakota enacted legislation barring China and five other countries from purchasing farmland within the state.
Similarly, the U.S. Treasury Department expanded the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review real estate deals near military bases, aiming to curb foreign adversaries’ influence.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted that the USDA lacks comprehensive data on foreign ownership of agricultural land, hindering effective monitoring and response.
Secretary Rollins emphasized the necessity of a cohesive federal approach to address these concerns, stating that the USDA is committed to collaborating with other federal agencies and Congress to develop policies that protect American interests and ensure the security of the nation’s food supply.
Original Source: Breitbart News