Agriculture and National Security Act

The Agriculture and National Security Act aims to bolster the United States' food and agriculture sector against national security threats by enhancing coordination and oversight within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). It establishes a new position, the Assistant Secretary for National Security , within the Office of the Secretary. This Assistant Secretary will serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary on national security, act as the primary liaison with the National Security Council and other federal agencies, and coordinate national security activities across the Department. The bill also authorizes the USDA to improve interagency coordination by allowing the exchange of personnel detailees with defense, national and homeland security, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. This measure is intended to facilitate better information sharing, vulnerability identification, and risk mitigation concerning food and agriculture. Furthermore, the legislation mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to submit biennial reports to Congress and the National Security Council. These reports must assess gaps and limitations in national security efforts related to food and agriculture, including issues like foreign influence, agricultural data control, foreign acquisition of assets, supply chain disruptions, and vulnerabilities stemming from emerging technologies such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The reports will also detail actions taken, policy recommendations, and resources needed by the Department to address these critical vulnerabilities.