Agriculture and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7153)

Summary

The Agriculture and National Security Act of 2026 is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to improve the connections between the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and national and homeland security agencies. The key provisions of the bill include:

Prioritizing National Security at USDA

• The Secretary of Agriculture must prioritize national security, in addition to homeland security, within the USDA.
• The bill establishes the position of Senior Advisor for National Security within the Office of the Secretary to serve as the principal advisor on national security matters.

Interagency Coordination

• The bill allows the USDA Secretary to detail personnel to and accept detailees from defense, national security, homeland security, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies to improve information sharing, vulnerability identification, and risk mitigation related to food and agriculture.

Biennial Reports on National Security Vulnerabilities

• The USDA Secretary must submit biennial reports to Congress and the National Security Council that assess gaps or limitations in national security efforts related to food and agriculture.
• The reports must cover issues such as foreign influence, data control, intellectual property, supply chain disruptions, and emerging technology vulnerabilities.
• The reports must also detail the USDA's actions to address these vulnerabilities and provide policy recommendations.

Impact

This legislation is intended to strengthen the USDA's role in identifying and addressing national security vulnerabilities within the food and agriculture sector. By increasing coordination with other federal agencies and regularly reporting on emerging issues, the bill aims to enhance the government's ability to protect the country's food supply and agricultural assets from potential threats.