Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas has been awarded an A+ rating in the inaugural 2025 State Shield Scorecard, placing the state at the top of the national rankings for efforts to protect against foreign adversary influence—particularly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The scorecard, released by State Shield, recognizes Arkansas as a national leader in defending its land, economy, and government from hostile foreign threats.
Bold Actions Against Foreign Adversary Influence
“Arkansas was the first state in the country to kick Communist China off our farmland and out of our state, and we didn’t stop there,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “We’ve taken real action to protect our land, our data, and our taxpayers from hostile foreign influence. This recognition shows that strong leadership at the state level makes a real difference in keeping our people and our economy secure.”
State Shield, a national initiative focused on identifying and countering foreign adversary influence at the state level, evaluates policies that address threats such as foreign land ownership near military installations, hostile surveillance technologies, covert lobbying, and foreign access to public data systems. Arkansas’ strong showing reflects its multi-layered approach to eliminating vulnerabilities.
Governor Sanders was also honored as Best Governor for National Security, a title recognizing her leadership in enacting sweeping, first-in-the-nation reforms designed to block foreign adversaries from gaining a foothold in Arkansas.
Strongest Prohibitions in the Nation
Under Governor Sanders’ administration, Arkansas passed what State Shield called the strongest ban on foreign adversary land ownership in the country. The legislation prevents hostile foreign governments and affiliated entities from purchasing Arkansas land and allows the state to reacquire land already purchased in violation of the law.
To enhance cybersecurity, the Governor took executive action to ban CCP-linked applications and technologies from all state-issued devices. This policy aims to reduce the risk of data theft, digital surveillance, and foreign infiltration within state systems.
Divesting from Hostile Regimes
Governor Sanders has also taken steps to protect public investments from foreign influence. In 2023, she signed Act 937, sponsored by Representative Howard Beaty Jr. and Senator Blake Johnson, which prohibits state and local governments from investing in Chinese companies. The act requires the divestment of public funds tied to foreign adversaries, effectively redirecting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars away from geopolitical threats and ensuring retirement systems and pension funds remain secure.
The law includes a financially responsible divestment process that balances security priorities with fiscal stability, ensuring that Arkansans’ financial interests are prioritized over those of foreign powers.
A National Model for State-Level Security
The scorecard reviewed 11 states for its 2025 report, with plans to include more in future editions. Arkansas’ actions align with broader efforts to fortify U.S. farmland, technology infrastructure, and supply chains against foreign threats. Governor Sanders has also joined leaders like U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in advocating for a National Farm Security Action Plan, highlighting the growing recognition of state-level leadership in national security.
Arkansas’ A+ rating and Governor Sanders’ recognition underscore how proactive state policy can contribute significantly to defending against modern security threats—setting a standard for other states to follow.
