Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman says protection of the nation’s food supply is a large part of President Bush’s plan to regroup much of the national security apparatus under the Department of Homeland Security, involving USDA in more security issues than in the past. The Secretary said the administration supports a proposal by the House Agriculture Committee to move specialized border inspection and enforcement functions of USDA, as well as the Plum Island Disease Facility, to the new Department of Homeland Security.

Under the committee’s proposal, programs such as protecting livestock from predators; negotiating with foreign countries on technical requirements for U.S. exports and imports, biotechnology, and animal welfare, would remain under direct USDA control.