Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025
Summary
SB 732, titled the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025, would amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to give the Secretary of Agriculture a formal role in foreign investment reviews involving U.S. agriculture. Specifically, it adds the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for covered transactions involving agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, and the agriculture industry, including transportation, storage, and processing.
The bill also creates a special process for certain agricultural land transactions involving foreign persons from covered countries. After the Secretary of Agriculture notifies CFIUS of a reportable agricultural land transaction, the committee must determine whether the deal is a covered transaction and whether to review it or take other action. The bill defines covered countries as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, and the added requirements would end if a country is removed from the federal foreign adversaries list. The bill ties this process to existing reporting obligations under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would expand federal national-security review authority over foreign investment in U.S. agriculture by explicitly involving the Department of Agriculture in CFIUS deliberations and by directing review of certain agricultural land acquisitions by foreign persons from designated adversary ქვეყნies. It would not broadly ban foreign ownership, but it would strengthen scrutiny, coordination, and potential intervention for transactions involving farmland, ag-biotech, and agricultural infrastructure. The bill would affect the Defense Production Act, CFIUS procedures, and the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act reporting framework.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally supportive sentiment. The bill was introduced by Senator Marshall with bipartisan cosponsors Senators Baldwin, Barrasso, and Young, indicating cross-party interest in protecting agricultural assets from foreign adversaries. No committee transcript or recorded vote is available in the provided materials, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or debate in the record here.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between national security and foreign investment in agriculture. Supporters are likely to favor stronger oversight of farmland and ag-related assets, especially involving China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Potential concerns could include whether the bill creates additional bureaucracy, how broadly CFIUS should reach into ordinary land transactions, and whether the targeted-country approach is sufficiently narrow or too restrictive. Because no hearing transcript or vote history is provided, specific objections from named lawmakers or stakeholders are not available.
Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025This bill prohibits persons associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States.Specifically, the President must prohibit any person (individual or entity) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of these foreign governments from purchasing or leasing (1) public agricultural land that is owned by the United States and administered by a federal department or agency, or (2) private agricultural land that is located in the United States.A person that violates or attempts to violate this prohibition is subject to civil and criminal penalties. This prohibition does not require a person that owns or leases agricultural land as of the date of this bill's enactment to sell that land.Further, the President must prohibit a person associated with these foreign governments and who leases, or who has full or partial ownership of, agricultural land in the United States from participating in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Exceptions are included to allow for participation in USDA programs related to food safety, the health and labor safety of individuals, or certain reporting and disclosure requirements.The bill excludes U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from these restrictions.The bill also amends the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) to require reporting on security interests and leases.Finally, the Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress on AFIDA.
Further providing for purchase of agricultural conservation easements, for Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and for Land Trust Reimbursement Program.