PRIA Logo™
119-s-2694119th Congress

Agriculture and National Security Act

Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen USDA's national security role. This bill would create an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for National Security to lead coordination on vulnerabilities in food and agriculture, with special focus on emerging technologies like biotechnology, artificial intelligence, drones, and cybersecurity.

Show full summary
  • Creates a new Assistant Secretary position to be filled within 180 days and makes that official the Department's principal adviser and primary liaison to the National Security Council and other federal agencies. The role would coordinate national security activities across USDA, including the Office of Homeland Security and the Intelligence Community Counterintelligence Office, and oversee implementation of foreign investment and defense production reviews.
  • Lets USDA accept and send detailees with defense, national and homeland security, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies, with or without reimbursement, to improve information sharing and vulnerability identification across food and agriculture.
  • Requires a report to Congress and the National Security Council at least once every 2 years. Reports must assess gaps in food and agricultural security, list actions taken, offer policy recommendations, and identify resources and personnel needs.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New USDA national security chief

If enacted, the Secretary would create an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for National Security. The Secretary must appoint someone within 180 days after enactment. That official would advise the Secretary and lead USDA coordination on national-security risks to food and agriculture. They would work with the National Security Council, other federal agencies, and stakeholders. They would focus on emerging technology risks like biotechnology, artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity, and supply chains.

Clarify USDA implementation authority

If enacted, the bill would add a provision saying the Secretary may carry out the Act's amendments to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act. This is a technical change to make implementation authority clearer. The change would take effect on enactment.

Staff exchanges with security agencies

If enacted, the Secretary could send staff to, and accept staff from, defense, law enforcement, homeland security, and intelligence agencies. Those detailees may be provided with or without reimbursement. The goal would be better information sharing, vulnerability identification, and risk mitigation for food and agriculture. This authority would take effect when the bill becomes law.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation