# 119-s-2694: Agriculture and National Security Act

119-s-2694, Agriculture and National Security Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2694
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2694
- Congress: 119
- Title: Agriculture and National Security Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New USDA national security chief: benefit, high. 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…
- Clarify USDA implementation authority: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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 mitigatio…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-s-579: Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2694 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2694)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1462)
- [119-s-579: Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-579)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2694 (as of 2026-04-21).