Congress Probes National FFA Over China-Linked Syngenta Partnership and DEI Initiatives

Federal lawmakers have opened a formal inquiry into the National Future Farmers of America (FFA), requesting detailed records about the organization’s partnership with Syngenta Group and its recent emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The inquiry — led by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional FFA Caucus — raises questions about foreign influence, programmatic direction, and compliance with tax-exempt rules.

Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., is demanding answers from the National FFA over its partnership with a CCP-linked agribusiness citing national security tax status and foreign influence concerns.(Getty Images)

What Lawmakers Are Asking

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith and Congressional FFA Caucus co-chair Tracey Mann sent a letter to National FFA CEO Scott Stump demanding contracts, financial records, descriptions of any roles held by Syngenta employees within FFA, and documentation showing whether Syngenta influenced FFA policies or programming, including DEI initiatives.

Lawmakers dedicated a significant portion of the letter to outlining the Syngenta Group's ties to the Chinese government.

Why This Matters

The lawmakers argue the FFA serves as a formative institution for future agricultural leaders — reaching more than one million students through thousands of chapters nationwide — and that access to its leadership, programming and students could create opportunities for foreign influence.

Lawmakers also expressed concern over the influence a Chinese state-owned company could exert over future agricultural leadership.

"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 letter states.

Syngenta's Ownership And U.S. Concerns

The committee letter details Syngenta Group’s ownership history: Syngenta has been owned since 2017 by China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina), a state-owned enterprise that later merged into Sinochem Holdings. Lawmakers pointed to prior U.S. government designations related to China’s military-civil fusion strategy and to more recent actions at state and federal levels limiting certain Chinese investments in U.S. agricultural assets.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Rep. Tracey Mann cited remarks by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins that "farm security is national security."

According to the letter, those connections and prior designations create "red flags" for a U.S.-based, tax-exempt youth organization tied to agriculture. Lawmakers cited concerns about economic espionage and the theft of biotechnology and agriculture-related intellectual property as reasons for scrutiny.

DEI Concerns

Smith and Mann also questioned FFA’s increasing emphasis on DEI programs, arguing such priorities could shift the organization away from its core agricultural education mission and risk dividing student members along identity lines. The letter asks whether corporate partners, including Syngenta, played any role in shaping DEI efforts or the organization’s strategic direction.

Requested Records And Next Steps

The letter directs the National FFA to produce contracts and financial disclosures related to Syngenta; descriptions of any roles Syngenta employees hold in leadership, advisory, or programmatic positions; records showing input on internal policies or DEI programming; and other documents relevant to assessing foreign influence and tax-exempt compliance.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Chair Jason Smith said the committee is expanding an investigation of "malign foreign influence in the U.S. tax-exempt sector" to include the FFA. Fox News Digital reported that the National FFA was contacted for comment.

Note: This inquiry is ongoing. The facts reported here summarize the lawmakers' public letter and related statements; responses from the National FFA or Syngenta could provide additional context or clarification.