The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns about the Biden administration’s failure to effectively monitor foreign ownership of American farmlands, with a specific focus on Chinese investments. According to the GAO’s investigation, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not been consistently providing timely data on foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land, as mandated by the 1978 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA).
The GAO report, published late Thursday, highlights the USDA’s shortcomings in collecting, tracking, and reporting key information under AFIDA. Pentagon officials have underscored the need for more up-to-date and specific AFIDA data to better understand potential national security risks associated with foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land.
The investigation revealed that the USDA’s process for collecting AFIDA data is paper-based and filed with county or federal offices, a method described as “unclear and challenging to implement.” Additionally, the USDA has not developed plans or timelines to create an online AFIDA database, despite a Congressional mandate to do so by 2025.
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, expressed grave concerns about the USDA’s inability to provide clear answers about land ownership and its impact on the supply chain and economy. “Food security is national security,” Newhouse stated, emphasizing the importance of transparency in foreign land investments.
The GAO’s review of the most recent AFIDA data from 2021 revealed errors in the USDA’s reporting, including duplicated reports of the largest land holding associated with China. The USDA’s data suggests that as of 2021, foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land has grown to approximately 40 million acres, with Chinese agricultural investment in the U.S. increasing tenfold from 2009 to 2016.
These findings have heightened scrutiny among Republican lawmakers and local leaders nationwide regarding land purchases by foreign investors, especially those from China. Concerns are mounting that foreign entities may be gaining control over key U.S. food and energy supplies.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, emphasized the threat posed by China’s ownership of U.S. farmland to the nation’s food security and national security. He, along with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, led a letter to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting a probe into the matter.
The USDA has acknowledged the complexity of tracking foreign-owned agricultural land, citing the need for Congressional action to modernize processes and increase staffing. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian, expressing a desire to expand market access opportunities for U.S. farmers in China.
The GAO report underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to safeguard U.S. farmland and food supply from foreign influence, especially amid growing geopolitical tensions.