On July 25, 2025, Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.) introduced the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act, a House bill aimed at prohibiting entities and individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing U.S. farmland and residential properties. The legislation, a companion to Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) Senate bill, responds to growing concerns over national security and food supply risks posed by Chinese land ownership, particularly near military bases. As of 2023, Chinese entities held 277,336 acres of U.S. land, less than 1% of foreign-held acres, per USDA data.
The bill, backed by President Trump’s administration, aligns with a July 8 USDA plan to block such purchases and reclaim existing CCP-linked land. Supporters, including Miller, argue that CCP acquisitions threaten American sovereignty, citing cases like the 2022 Fufeng Group purchase near Grand Forks Air Force Base. The legislation empowers the USDA to review transactions via the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), with Secretary Brooke Rollins now a voting member. Penalties for non-disclosure could reach 25% of land value.
Critics, including the ACLU, warn the bill risks anti-Asian discrimination and may violate constitutional protections, as seen in a 2024 federal court ruling against Florida’s similar law. Democrats like Representative Elissa Slotkin argue farmland scrutiny should remain a federal issue to avoid overreach. Despite bipartisan support, with Senator John Fetterman endorsing similar measures, the bill faces hurdles in a divided Congress.
The move reflects Trump’s “America First” agenda, with 26 states already limiting foreign land ownership. As national security concerns mount, the legislation could reshape U.S. agricultural policy, balancing protectionism against economic and legal challenges.
