Unveiling the National Farm Security Action Plan, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration would collaborate with state and local governments to block land acquisitions by Chinese entities. “American agriculture is not just about feeding our families, but about protecting our nation,” Rollins stated.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that land ownership near strategic military sites could pose “a serious threat to national security.” The move comes amid heightened concerns in Washington over China’s presence in critical sectors of the U.S. economy.

In 2024, President Biden ordered a Chinese crypto-mining firm in Wyoming to sell its land after it was discovered to be near a U.S. nuclear base—the first such action under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), which will now be used more aggressively.

Bipartisan Support And Broader Scrutiny

Republican lawmakers welcomed the proposal. John Moolenaar, chair of the House China Committee, called the measure “a necessary step to protect both our agriculture and our sovereignty,” warning that Chinese land purchases were part of a larger strategic threat.

According to 2023 figures, Chinese-owned entities held 277,336 acres of U.S. farmland, concentrated in states like Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Utah, and Florida. While that’s less than 1% of foreign-held land, officials argue that location and intent matter more than volume.

The administration also pledged to reclaim land already purchased by foreign adversaries and is pushing for expanded CFIUS authority to review a broader range of real estate investments linked to national security concerns.