Detroit Seizes ‘Agroterror’ Fungus: Michigan Lawmaker Praises State’s Strategy to Counter CCP Influence

Concerns over foreign interference have intensified in Michigan following the recent interception of a highly dangerous fungus, Fusarium graminearum, in Detroit. The pathogen is considered a potent agent for "agroterrorism" that could devastate American grain crops and inflict billions of dollars in damage. Authorities allege that two Chinese nationals, enrolled as students at the University of Michigan, attempted to smuggle the fungus into the country, sparking fears about potential bioterror threats and the growing influence of foreign actors on U.S. soil.

Addressing the issue, House Speaker Matt Hall emphasized the urgent need for proactive legislation and vigilance. Hall noted that he has spearheaded the Foreign Influence Protection package through the State House—a set of proposed measures intended to block operatives linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing farmland, accessing sensitive state data, and infiltrating universities. Hall described the package as the “strongest collection of protections against CCP interference nationwide,” and criticized Senate Democrats and Governor Gretchen Whitmer for delaying its passage. He warned that without action, critical sectors such as agriculture and education remain vulnerable to foreign interference.

Efforts to contact Governor Whitmer and Senate President Pro Tempore Jeremy Moss for comment on the stalled legislation were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Hall credited former President Donald Trump for prioritizing the defense of U.S. land and institutions from what he called Chinese “schemes,” and pledged to continue exposing any CCP operations undermining security in Michigan. “We will expose every CCP operation, root out every vulnerability, and mobilize every state resource to secure Michigan—farmland, universities, and beyond,” Hall said.

As details emerged, a spokesperson from the Michigan House Republican Communications Office raised alarms about federal and state regulatory bodies potentially being penetrated by CCP sympathizers. According to the spokesperson, foreign agents may be leveraging academic research grants to conduct sensitive projects involving pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum—a concern echoed by national security experts who call the incident a “direct threat.” The case has revived memories of past accusations regarding foreign-origin pathogens and the vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debate over foreign ownership and influence has also been fueled by controversies surrounding Chinese investments in Michigan’s burgeoning green technology sector. Republicans have criticized Governor Whitmer for pursuing economic development deals with Chinese electric vehicle battery companies, most notably the planned Gotion plant in Big Rapids. In 2024, Michigan Representative John Moolenaar cited evidence linking Gotion High Tech to Chinese supply chains allegedly involved in forced labor and human rights abuses. Gotion and its European partner, Volkswagen, have denied these allegations, dismissing them as “baseless and absolutely false.”

The struggle to contain foreign influence goes beyond biological threats and land ownership. In October, five Chinese nationals studying in Michigan faced espionage charges after they were accused of spying near the Michigan National Guard’s Camp Grayling. Lawmakers are now seeking to strengthen safeguards in education and technology, including proposals to bar schools from accepting foreign grants that promote anti-American agendas and to remove foreign-developed data-mining apps from government devices. There is also increasing scrutiny over the use of drones and other law enforcement technologies sourced from Chinese firms.

With legislative action stalled in Lansing, the incident has intensified calls for comprehensive policy reforms to protect Michigan’s economy, infrastructure, and academic integrity from foreign threats. Lawmakers supporting the Foreign Influence Protection package warn that inaction could leave key American resources exposed to adversarial actors seeking to undermine the nation’s security and prosperity.