The "Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026" requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an exercise focusing on preventing, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating agroterrorism, specifically targeting the agriculture and food sectors. The exercise involves coordination with various federal, state, and private entities. Following the exercise, the Secretary of Homeland Security must submit an after-action report to Congress outlining findings, plans, and legislative recommendations to enhance the nation's security against agroterrorism. The bill defines terms related to agroterrorism and biological agents.
Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), within four years after the bill’s enactment, to conduct an exercise to enhance collective domestic prevention, response, and recovery regarding acts of agroterrorism (i.e., terrorism targeting or threatening agriculture and food systems of vital importance to national security, public health, or safety). The scenario in the exercise must involve agroterrorists transporting and deploying in the United States a biological agent (e.g., microorganism or infectious substance) capable of harming critical agriculture and food operations and must address how relevant public and private entities can coordinate to develop preparedness and mitigate widespread disruption.
Within 180 days after completion of the exercise, DHS must submit to Congress an after-action report including the findings of the exercise, plans for incorporating lessons learned into future operations, and recommended legislative actions.
