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Federal lawmakers are demanding answers from the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) over its partnership with a Chinese Communist Party-controlled agribusiness and diversity initiatives, citing national security concerns and questions about the organization’s tax-exempt status.
The inquiry is being spearheaded by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Congressional FFA Caucus co-chair Tracey Mann, who have sent a letter to National FFA CEO Scott Stump requesting documents and answers about the organization’s relationship with Syngenta Group.
“Working with our nation’s foreign adversaries and prioritizing woke policies over your mission raises serious concerns regarding whether the National FFA is complying with the requirements to maintain tax-exempt status,” the lawmakers wrote.
The National FFA serves more than one million students through thousands of chapters nationwide, playing a crucial role in developing future agricultural leaders. This educational mission makes the organization’s ties to foreign entities particularly sensitive, according to the committee.
At the center of lawmakers’ concerns is Syngenta Group’s ownership structure. Since 2017, Syngenta has been wholly owned by China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina), which later merged into Sinochem Holdings. Both ChemChina and Sinochem were designated as Communist Chinese military companies during the Trump administration—a classification identifying firms linked to Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy.
While those specific designations were removed in 2021 under the Biden administration, Syngenta was later redesignated as a Chinese military company, highlighting ongoing concerns about its connections to the Chinese government.
“The CCP has a well-documented history of economic espionage to steal biotechnology and agriculture-related intellectual property, and the fact that the National FFA has provided one of their state-owned companies direct access to the future leaders of America’s farming industry is alarming,” the letter states.
The congressional inquiry comes amid growing national security concerns about Chinese influence in American agriculture. Several U.S. states and federal agencies have taken steps to limit Chinese ownership of American farmland, including efforts to force Syngenta subsidiaries to divest agricultural properties and initiatives preventing the sale of U.S. farmland to Chinese entities.
Agricultural security has become increasingly viewed as a national security matter. Smith and Mann cited USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ statement that “farm security is national security” to underscore the strategic importance of protecting U.S. agricultural interests from foreign influence.
Beyond the Syngenta relationship, lawmakers also criticized FFA’s embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, suggesting these programs risk shifting the organization away from its agricultural education mission toward identity-based priorities that could divide students.
“The goal of the National FFA should be to bring student members together as a community — not force them into specific categories,” the lawmakers wrote. They also questioned whether Syngenta played an inappropriate role in shaping these diversity initiatives and the organization’s overall strategic direction.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Chairman Smith explained the committee’s decision to expand its investigation to include the FFA. “The Ways and Means Committee is expanding our investigation into the malign foreign influence in the U.S. tax-exempt sector to include the FFA in light of deeply concerning reports that the organization has maintained ties to an entity controlled by the Chinese Communist Party — a relationship that appears to have influenced its decision-making,” Smith said.
The letter directs the National FFA to provide detailed information about its partnership with Syngenta Group, including contracts, financial contributions, and the role Syngenta employees may play in leadership or advisory positions. Lawmakers have also requested documentation about the company’s involvement in shaping FFA’s diversity programs and strategic initiatives.
The committee emphasized that its investigation is part of broader congressional oversight of tax-exempt organizations and their vulnerability to foreign influence, particularly in sectors critical to national security. The National FFA has not yet publicly responded to the inquiry.
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12 Comments
The diversity initiatives are also an interesting angle here. Maintaining an inclusive pipeline for future ag leaders is important, but it must be balanced with the organization’s core mission.
Good point. The FFA needs to ensure their diversity efforts align with and support their fundamental purpose, not distract from it.
This raises valid national security concerns that Congress is right to investigate. The FFA’s mission should remain focused on developing future American agricultural leaders, not foreign entanglements.
Well said. The FFA needs to be vigilant about preserving its independence and core purpose.
I’m curious to see what documents and information the FFA provides in response to the congressional inquiry. Transparency around their partnerships and priorities will be crucial.
Agreed, the FFA should be forthcoming with details to address these legitimate questions.
Concerning to see the FFA potentially compromising its independence and core values through partnerships and initiatives that raise red flags. They need to tread carefully here.
Agreed, the FFA must remain a trusted, non-partisan voice for American agriculture.
This bears watching closely. The FFA plays a vital role in rural communities, so it’s crucial they maintain the public’s trust through strong governance and accountability.
Well said. Upholding their tax-exempt status and mission integrity should be the top priorities.
Interesting to see the FFA facing scrutiny over their ties to China and diversity initiatives. Maintaining transparency and compliance with tax-exempt status is critical for such an influential agricultural education organization.
Agreed. The potential conflicts of interest with a Chinese state-owned firm need to be thoroughly examined.