Washington lawmakers have renewed scrutiny of foreign investment in US agricultural assets, as Congressman Frank D. Lucas urged Congress to expand the remit of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to include the Agriculture Secretary as a permanent member for transactions linked to the farming and food supply chain.
The proposal was raised during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday titled “Evaluating the Operations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)”, which examined how the interagency body assesses national security risks posed by overseas investors.
Chris Pilkerton, the recently sworn in Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the US Department of the Treasury, appeared as the invited witness. Treasury chairs CFIUS and plays a central role in coordinating the committee’s work, including reviews of sensitive mergers, acquisitions, and real estate transactions involving foreign parties.
Lucas, a Republican lawmaker, used the session to promote his bipartisan Agricultural Risk Review Act, legislation designed to bolster the government’s oversight of foreign involvement in US agriculture.
In remarks to the committee, Lucas framed the bill as a response to mounting concern around strategic ownership of farmland and agricultural infrastructure by hostile foreign actors.
Lucas: “The issue of ownership of key agriculture equities like land and infrastructure by foreign adversaries has continued to raise alarm bells across the country.
That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Agricultural Risk Review Act – to add the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member to CFIUS for any transaction relating to the Ag industry and to require CFIUS to initiate reviews of threats notified by USDA.
Mr. Pilkerton – can you provide Treasury’s perspective? How does CFIUS benefit from the Secretary of Agriculture’s input? Would it be helpful for the Secretary [of Agriculture] to be a permanent member for transactions related to Ag?”
The comments reflect a broader policy debate in Washington over whether existing screening mechanisms are sufficient to protect the US food system, rural land base, and agricultural supply chains from geopolitical threats.
CFIUS, an interagency committee authorised to review certain foreign investments, has traditionally focused on national security concerns such as defence technology, critical infrastructure, and access to sensitive personal data. However, lawmakers from both parties have increasingly argued that food production and agricultural land should be treated as strategic assets, particularly as global tensions rise and supply chain resilience becomes a central economic issue.
Pilkerton, speaking for Treasury, acknowledged the national security dimension of food and agriculture, responding directly to Lucas’s line of questioning.
Mr. Pilkerton: “Secretary Rollins often says food security is national security, and I certainly agree with that.”
-Chris Pilkerton, Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Supporters of Lucas’s legislation argue that adding the Agriculture Secretary would provide specialist expertise to CFIUS when assessing transactions involving farmland, food processing facilities, fertiliser production, seed technology, and related logistics networks. They also contend that the Agriculture Department is better placed to identify threats and vulnerabilities within the sector, including those that may not be captured by traditional national security frameworks.
Under the Agricultural Risk Review Act, the Secretary of Agriculture would become a permanent member of CFIUS for any transaction relating to the agricultural industry. The bill would also require the committee to initiate reviews of threats notified by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), strengthening the pathway for agricultural concerns to be formally assessed within the national security screening process.
In its current form, CFIUS membership includes senior officials from across the federal government, typically led by Treasury and drawing input from departments such as Defence, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, and Energy. While CFIUS can consult with other agencies, Lucas’s bill seeks to formalise USDA’s role and ensure that agricultural transactions consistently receive sector-specific evaluation.
The legislative push comes at a time when foreign ownership of US farmland has become a politically charged issue. Several states have introduced or tightened restrictions on land purchases by entities linked to foreign governments, while federal lawmakers have called for greater transparency and tougher enforcement.
Backers of the Agricultural Risk Review Act argue that the US needs a clearer, more consistent approach to assessing risks, particularly where foreign investments could affect food security, rural economies, or supply chain stability. Critics, however, have cautioned that overly broad restrictions could deter legitimate capital investment in US agriculture, a sector that has long relied on domestic and international financing for expansion and modernisation.
Lucas’s office said the Agricultural Risk Review Act passed the House in June of last year, signalling growing support in Congress for expanding the government’s oversight of foreign activity in the agricultural sector. The bill’s future will depend on further legislative action, including potential consideration in the Senate.
The hearing forms part of ongoing congressional oversight of CFIUS operations, as lawmakers evaluate whether the committee has the tools and membership needed to respond to evolving security threats. While CFIUS has gained expanded authority in recent years, including new powers to review certain real estate transactions, the debate over agriculture highlights the continuing shift in how policymakers define national security in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
