Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4046
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-11T17:36:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025 aims to strengthen cybersecurity in the U.S. agricultural sector by creating specialized centers focused on research, technology development, and training. It addresses vulnerabilities in areas like seed production, horticulture, animal farming, and the agricultural supply chain, which are critical to national food security.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, must create a competitive grant and cooperative agreement program to fund five Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers.
- National Network: The Secretary will form a national network linking these regional centers and designate one college or university to coordinate its activities.
- Center Duties: Each regional center must:
- Conduct research on cybersecurity systems for agriculture, including tools to monitor threats, intrusions, and unusual activities (known as situational awareness systems).
- Develop a security operations center to analyze threats and suggest ways to reduce risks.
- Create tailored cybersecurity technologies, such as detection systems for intrusions, access controls based on user roles, lightweight authentication for devices, and secure network designs.
- Build testing environments (testbeds) to evaluate and improve these technologies.
- Run simulated attack and defense exercises to test solutions for real-world use in agriculture.
- Offer education and training programs for agricultural stakeholders, including hands-on sessions using the testbeds.
- Foster regional partnerships for research and development among stakeholders.
- Eligible Entities: Grants go to colleges or universities with expertise in food and agriculture sciences and cybersecurity. These institutions must collaborate with industry partners, cooperatives, government bodies, and others to enhance security, privacy, resilience, and workforce skills.
- Funding: Authorizes $25 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 by adding a new section (1473I) to Subtitle K. It introduces a dedicated cybersecurity program focused on agriculture, which did not previously exist in the law. No existing provisions are repealed or altered; instead, it expands the scope to include cybersecurity research and infrastructure protection as priorities alongside traditional agricultural research and education.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will gain new responsibilities for oversight, funding, and coordination, potentially improving inter-agency collaboration on critical infrastructure security. This could strain budgets if appropriations fall short but enhance overall preparedness.
- Citizens and Agriculture Sector: Farmers, agribusinesses, and supply chain workers may benefit from better protection against cyber threats (e.g., hacks disrupting operations or data), leading to more secure food production and distribution. Training programs could build a skilled workforce, reducing economic losses from cyberattacks estimated in billions annually for the sector.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stronger U.S. agricultural cybersecurity could bolster global food supply stability and position the U.S. as a leader in resilient ag-tech, potentially influencing trade and international standards.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: USDA (primary implementer) and DHS (consultation role).
- Educational Institutions: Colleges and universities eligible for grants, especially those in agricultural states, which will lead centers and networks.
- Agricultural Industry: Farmers, cooperatives, seed/ horticulture/animal producers, and supply chain companies, who gain access to research, tools, and training.
- Regional Partners: Local governments, industry groups, and stakeholders involved in collaborations for security and workforce development.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns with existing federal authority under agricultural and homeland security laws to protect critical infrastructure (agriculture is designated as such under laws like the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act). It emphasizes competitive grants, ensuring transparency and accountability without mandating private sector compliance.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports the federal government's role in promoting general welfare and interstate commerce (agriculture spans states) while respecting state and local involvement through regional centers.
- Political: Introduced by bipartisan sponsors (Republicans from Iowa and North Carolina, key agricultural states), it reflects growing congressional focus on cybersecurity for non-traditional sectors like farming amid rising threats from state actors and cybercriminals. Success depends on committee approval (referred to House Agriculture Committee) and full funding, potentially setting a model for sector-specific cyber initiatives.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-17 — PDF (4 pages)