Arkansas – Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined top federal and state officials at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) press conference on Tuesday, July 8, to announce the USDA’s new Action Plan for U.S. Farm Security. The plan aims to promote agricultural prosperity, protect the American food supply, and guard against foreign adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party.
Governor Sanders delivered remarks alongside Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and White House Counselor Peter Navarro.
The USDA’s Action Plan outlines a coordinated effort to strengthen domestic agriculture, defend critical infrastructure, and secure U.S. farmland from foreign influence. The initiative responds to growing concerns about national food security and the role of foreign entities—particularly those tied to the CCP—in purchasing American farmland and influencing agricultural research.
Governor Sanders highlighted her administration’s aggressive efforts to address this issue at the state level. Arkansas became the first state to remove Chinese ownership from its farmland under her leadership. Most recently, she signed the Communist China Defense legislative package, which bans CCP-affiliated land ownership near critical infrastructure, prohibits state investments in Chinese companies, and restricts public universities from engaging in agricultural partnerships with the CCP.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Arkansas’ economy,” Sanders said. “Defending our farmers and protecting our land is not only about economic security — it’s about national security. I’m proud to stand with President Trump’s administration in putting American farmers first.”
The USDA’s plan builds on a broader push from federal and state leaders to ensure the integrity of the U.S. agricultural supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign adversaries. A livestream of the Governor’s remarks is available online.