The Trump administration is taking aggressive steps to block China and other adversarial nations from owning American farmland. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a national security plan aimed at halting future foreign purchases and tightening oversight.
Key Facts:
- On July 8, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a ban on Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland.
- The plan includes executive actions, cooperation with states, and legislative efforts to stop adversarial land ownership.
- The USDA will create a new online system for tracking foreign land ownership and transactions.
- Rollins will join the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to review agriculture-related deals.
- Lawmakers and national security officials have expressed concerns about Chinese-controlled farmland for years.
The Rest of The Story:
At a press conference on July 8, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stood alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to announce a major policy change: a federal initiative to block Chinese and other foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland.
The action comes in response to mounting national security concerns.
A USDA plan obtained by The Epoch Times stated, “Land owned by foreign nationals—particularly those from countries of concern…or other foreign adversaries—is a potential threat to national security and future economic prosperity.”
While the administration cannot retroactively seize land already owned by foreign entities, Rollins made clear that going forward, the USDA will push reforms on transparency and oversight.
“USDA is not in the role to be able to do that,” she said of reclaiming previously purchased land.
New measures include a digital system for foreign buyers to report holdings and transactions, as well as a partnership with the Treasury Department to ensure coordination on foreign deals via CFIUS.
Rollins will now sit on that panel, which reviews acquisitions for national security risks.
A 2024 Government Accountability Office report exposed major gaps in federal tracking of foreign land ownership.
“This report confirms one of our worst fears,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), citing concerns about both food security and economic vulnerability.
Commentary:
The Trump administration’s decision to block adversarial nations from acquiring American farmland is long overdue.
While concerns about Chinese ownership have been raised for years, previous leadership failed to act decisively.
This move restores a common-sense approach to protecting American soil—literally.
Foreign ownership of farmland is not just an abstract issue.
It’s about food security, economic resilience, and national defense.
Allowing entities linked to adversarial governments to hold sway over land that produces the nation’s food is a risk no serious government should tolerate.
Although this policy focuses heavily on China, the principle must apply broadly.
No adversarial nation—regardless of ideology—should be able to quietly accumulate strategic American assets.
Farmland is finite, and once lost to foreign interests, it’s difficult if not impossible to reclaim.
Critics may argue that blocking these purchases could disrupt global trade or anger international partners.
But the priority must be national security and self-reliance. America’s farmland should serve American interests.
It’s also encouraging to see federal and state coordination in this effort.
Too often, states have been left to fend for themselves, with little federal guidance.
A unified front will be necessary to close loopholes and enforce ownership rules effectively.
Rollins’ role on the CFIUS panel is critical. Agriculture has too often been left out of national security discussions.
Including farmland in these reviews shows a shift in Washington’s mindset—and it’s a shift in the right direction.
Transparency reforms are also vital. For too long, the government hasn’t even known who owns what.
That changes with the creation of a digital reporting system. It’s not glamorous policy, but it’s foundational.
The bottom line is simple: American farmland should be owned and controlled by Americans.
The Trump administration is drawing that line clearly, and it’s the right call.
The Bottom Line:
The Trump administration is taking a firm stance against Chinese and adversarial foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
The new policy will increase transparency, strengthen national security, and preserve critical agricultural resources.
This marks a major step in protecting American interests and ensuring the nation’s food supply remains under domestic control.
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