This bill establishes a new position within the Department of Agriculture focused on national security and requires the department to increase coordination with other federal agencies on food and agriculture security issues. Specifically, the Secretary of Agriculture must appoint a Senior Advisor for National Security within 180 days of the bill's enactment to serve as the principal advisor on national security matters and liaison to the National Security Council, while also working to integrate national security concerns into the department's existing homeland security activities. The bill also allows the Agriculture Department to exchange personnel with defense, national security, and intelligence agencies to improve information sharing and vulnerability identification. Beginning 180 days after enactment and every two years thereafter, the department must submit reports to Congress and the National Security Council assessing vulnerabilities in the food and agriculture sector, including concerns related to foreign investment in agricultural land, supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and dependence on foreign agricultural inputs. The bill does not specify dedicated funding levels but directs the department to identify what resources it needs to address national security vulnerabilities in agriculture.
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