By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken further steps to strengthen the protection of American agriculture by signing a new agreement with the Department of War. The Memorandum of Understanding supports the National Farm Security Action Plan, which recognizes agriculture as a vital part of national security.
Since launching the action plan, USDA has introduced several reforms. These include modernizing foreign land ownership reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act and developing an online filing system to improve transparency. A new reporting portal now allows farmers and the public to flag possible reporting failures.
The department has also worked across federal agencies to protect key agricultural inputs such as fertilizers by classifying certain materials as critical minerals. Additional actions include strengthening research oversight, ending certain foreign-linked contracts, and ensuring standardized grant rules across USDA programs.
Under the new agreement, USDA and national defense agencies will work more closely to protect agricultural systems from emerging threats. A major part of this collaboration involves a new partnership between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and USDA’s Office of the Chief Scientist. The two agencies will share information on vulnerabilities, develop innovative technologies, and exchange experts to improve security.
“President Trump is putting America First and that means ensuring our government is working as one to defend the safety, security, and resilience of our food supply and the land that sustains it,” said Secretary L. Brooke Rollins.
“Over the past year, USDA has delivered real results under the National Farm Security Action Plan. Today's MOU with Secretary Hegseth marks the next phase of that work, pairing USDA’s agricultural expertise with the Department of War’s innovation and security capabilities to confront threats head-on. I'm grateful for Secretary Hegseth’s leadership and partnership in supporting America’s farmers and ranchers,” said Rollins.
USDA also announced the formation of an Office of Research, Economic, and Science Security to coordinate research protection across its programs. This step builds federal research security directives and aims to safeguard both internal and external research activities.
“In the face of growing threats from adversaries who seek to undermine our food supply and agricultural independence, the Department of War stands ready to defend America's farms as vital national security assets. This Memorandum of Understanding with USDA, particularly through partnership with DARPA, will drive innovative solutions to protect our farmers and ranchers from cyber attacks, foreign intrusions, and biosecurity risks,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Together, under the leadership of President Trump and collaboration with Secretary Rollins, we're ensuring that American agriculture remains resilient, productive, and a cornerstone of our nation's strength,” said Hegseth.
Officials emphasized that protecting agriculture means defending the nation’s food supply, rural communities, and economic stability. By combining security expertise with agricultural leadership, the federal government seeks to ensure that American farms remain resilient, competitive, and secure for the future.
Photo Credi: usda
Categories: National