State Shield has awarded Arkansas an A+ rating in its inaugural 2025 State Shield Scorecard, recognizing the state as a national leader in defending against foreign adversary influence, particularly threats linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
State Shield also named Governor Sanders the Best Governor for National Security, citing her leadership in advancing first-in-the-nation protections designed to safeguard Arkansas’ land, data, and public investments.
“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,” Governor Sanders said. “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 is a national initiative focused on helping policymakers identify and counter modern national security threats that increasingly affect states. The scorecard evaluates risks such as foreign land ownership near military installations, hostile technology and surveillance concerns, covert lobbying activity, and exposure of public funds and government data systems.
Arkansas’ top ranking reflects a series of policies signed into law by Governor Sanders to close regulatory gaps and strengthen safeguards against foreign influence. These include legislation establishing one of the nation’s strongest prohibitions on foreign adversary land ownership, preventing hostile foreign governments and affiliated entities from purchasing land in Arkansas and authorizing the state to reacquire land obtained in violation of the law.
To further protect sensitive information, the governor issued executive actions banning applications, technology, and promotional materials linked to the Chinese Communist Party from state-issued devices, reducing the risk of data exposure and surveillance.
Governor Sanders also signed Act 937, sponsored by Representative Howard Beaty Jr. and Senator Blake Johnson, which prohibits state and local governments from investing public funds in Chinese companies and requires divestment from existing holdings tied to adversarial foreign entities. State officials say the measure redirects hundreds of millions of dollars away from geopolitical adversaries while protecting retirement systems, pension funds, and taxpayer dollars.
The state’s efforts align with broader national initiatives, including participation in a National Farm Security Action Plan aimed at protecting American farmland, supply chains, and food security.
The 2025 State Shield Scorecard evaluated 11 states in its first year, with plans to expand the program in future editions.
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