US Farm Chief: Reliance on China Threatens American 'Freedom'

American dependence on China for essential agricultural products like food and fertilizer poses an "existential" threat to the nation's liberty, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told lawmakers Thursday. She asserted that food security is intrinsically linked to national security, a stance she took while defending the White House's proposed budget cuts for fiscal year 2027.

"If we need to rely on China for our food and our fertilizer and all the things that come with that, we will lose what we understand to be liberty and freedom in this country. That’s how important this is," Rollins testified before the House Committee on Agriculture. She emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling it an "existential issue to preserving our country for the next 250 years."

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If we need to rely on China for our food and our fertilizer and all the things that come with that, we will lose what we understand to be liberty and freedom in this country. That’s how important this is.

The Trump administration is requesting US$20.8 billion in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 2027, a reduction of US$4.9 billion from the 2026 budget. Rollins' remarks highlight the mounting pressures faced by American farmers, including trade tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump that have impacted exports to China, a key market. Additionally, geopolitical conflicts and disruptions in shipping routes have driven up fuel and fertilizer costs.

Agriculture was a significant topic during Trump's recent trip to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Following that meeting, the White House announced a new agricultural trade deal. However, ongoing trade disputes and supply chain vulnerabilities continue to be major concerns for the U.S. agricultural sector.

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This is an existential issue to preserving our country for the next 250 years.