Chinese operatives caught smuggling a devastating bioweapon into America’s heartland trigger USDA Secretary Rollins to declare war on agroterrorism with a comprehensive new national food security initiative.
Key Takeaways
- Two Chinese nationals, including a CCP member, were arrested for smuggling Fusarium graminearum – a dangerous fungal pathogen classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon – into the United States
- FBI Director Kash Patel warned the fungus could “cripple our economy and endanger American lives” if released into U.S. agricultural systems
- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a comprehensive new initiative to strengthen agricultural security and will terminate a partnership between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a USDA research facility in Georgia
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ending all gain-of-function research to prevent biological threats
- The USDA expanded its ban on SNAP purchases of soda and candy to three additional states as part of broader reforms to the $119 billion food stamp program
Chinese Nationals Arrested in Agroterrorism Plot
In a case that federal authorities call a direct threat to national security, two Chinese nationals have been arrested for smuggling a dangerous fungal pathogen into the United States. Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are accused of illegally transporting Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that can devastate grain crops and is considered a potential agroterrorism weapon. FBI investigators revealed that Jian, who has ties to the Chinese Communist Party, received funding from the Chinese government, while Liu admitted to smuggling the pathogen for unauthorized research at the University of Michigan.
The charges against the two include conspiracy, smuggling biological materials, making false statements, and visa fraud. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the severity of the threat in stark terms: “This case is a sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
U.S. charges two Chinese nationals with smuggling a crop-killing fungus, raising concerns over national security. The case has revived calls to reinstate the China Initiative, aimed at combating espionage and protecting U.S. interests.https://t.co/SuKgBFh5wz
'Agroterrorism'…
— Spotlight on China (@spotlightoncn) June 5, 2025
USDA Launches Comprehensive Food Security Initiative
In response to this alarming threat, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has unveiled plans for a comprehensive new initiative to strengthen America’s food security. The initiative will involve a thorough review of USDA operations and engagement with the agricultural community to identify and address vulnerabilities in the food supply chain. “If we don’t have food security in this country we will not have national security,” stated Secretary Rollins.
“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon.
As part of the security overhaul, Rollins announced the termination of a partnership between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a USDA research facility in Georgia. This decisive action reflects the administration’s commitment to preventing foreign infiltration of America’s agricultural research institutions. The Justice Department has also reported that a third criminal complaint has been filed against another Chinese scientist for smuggling biological material into the United States, highlighting the systematic nature of these threats.
Broader Biosecurity and Agricultural Policy Reforms
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reinforced the administration’s commitment to ending gain-of-function research, which can potentially create more dangerous pathogens. “We’ve put an end to all gain-of-function studies. It should have never been done, and it won’t be done again,” declared Kennedy. This policy stance represents a significant departure from previous administrations and aligns with President Trump’s focus on protecting Americans from both domestic and foreign biological threats.
In addition to these security measures, Secretary Rollins has implemented significant reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Three additional states have received waivers to stop SNAP subsidies for sodas and candies, bringing the total to six states participating in this nutrition-focused reform. This policy change aims to reduce the estimated $27 billion in taxpayer money spent on junk food through the $119 billion food stamp program. A 2014 study suggested that banning SNAP subsidies for sugary drinks could substantially reduce obesity rates among program participants.
The Growing Threat of Agricultural Terrorism
The arrests underscore the broader challenge of protecting America’s agricultural infrastructure from intentional sabotage. Fusarium graminearum, the fungus at the center of this case, causes devastating crop diseases like Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley. If deliberately released into American farmlands, it could destroy harvests, contaminate food supplies with dangerous mycotoxins, and create widespread economic disruption. Agricultural experts have long warned that America’s food production systems represent a vulnerable and high-value target for adversaries seeking to harm the nation without direct military confrontation.
“These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities…an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson.
The case reflects growing concerns about Chinese infiltration of American research institutions and critical infrastructure. The FBI and other intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned about systematic efforts by Chinese operatives to steal intellectual property, conduct espionage, and potentially prepare for acts of sabotage against American interests. This agricultural bioterror plot represents a particularly alarming escalation, targeting the fundamental security of America’s food supply and demonstrating that the threats facing our nation continue to evolve in increasingly dangerous ways.
