House passes agroterrorism preparedness bill to protect food supply
The measure would require DHS to run a nationwide preparedness exercise with state, local and private-sector partners within four years.
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026 on Wednesday, legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Dale Strong, R-Alabama, that aims to increase preparedness for terrorist attacks targeting American agriculture.
“America’s agriculture and food supply are critical to both our national security and our economy, and we cannot afford to wait until an attack occurs to determine whether we are prepared,” Strong said in an official statement following the bill's passage. “This legislation will ensure our federal, state, and local partners, first responders, and the private sector are prepared to work together to protect our food supply and respond quickly in the event of an agroterrorism attack. I’m proud to see this commonsense legislation pass the House and move one step closer to becoming law.”
The legislation would direct the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, to conduct a nationwide exercise within the next four years focused on preventing, responding to, recovering from and mitigating attacks on America's food and agricultural sector.
According to the bill, the exercise would be carried out in collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies, along with private-sector stakeholders. DHS would be responsible for submitting its findings to the House Homeland Security Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee within 180 days of the exercise.
U.S. Representative Andrew Garbarino, R-New York, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, joined Strong in celebrating the bill's passage.
“A threat to our nation’s agricultural sector is a threat to every American. Our food supply chain is vital not just to our economy, but to our homeland security,” Garbarino said. “I am proud to join my House colleagues in passing Subcommittee Chairman Strong’s ‘Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026’ to ensure DHS is working with state and local partners to stay ahead of our adversaries and defend this critical infrastructure from evolving threats.”
Strong's bill previously passed out of committee in June and will now go to the Senate for further consideration.
