; and (B) be consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods. 12303. Investigative actions (a) Investigative actions Section 4 of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 ( 7 U.S.C. 3503 ) is amended to read as follows: 4. Investigative actions (a) In general The Secretary shall appoint an employee in the Senior Executive Service (as described in section 3131 of title 5, United States Code) of the Department of Agriculture to serve as Chief of Operations of Investigative Actions (referred to in this section as the Chief of Operations ), who shall hire, appoint, and maintain additional employees to monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act. (b) Chief of Operations The Chief of Operations may serve in such position simultaneously with a concurrent position within the Department of Agriculture. (c) Security The Secretary shall— (1) provide classified storage, meeting, and other spaces, as necessary, for personnel of the Chief of Operations; and (2) assist such personnel in obtaining security clearances. (d) Duties The Chief of Operations shall— (1) monitor compliance with this Act; (2) refer noncompliance with this Act to the Secretary, the Farm Service Agency, and any other appropriate authority; (3) conduct investigations, in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury, the National Security Council, and State and local law enforcement agencies, on malign efforts— (A) to steal agricultural knowledge and technology; or (B) to disrupt the United States agricultural base; (4) conduct an annual audit of the database developed under section 12304(c) of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 ; (5) seek to enter into memoranda of agreement and memoranda of understanding with the Federal agencies described in paragraph (3)— (A) to ensure compliance with this Act; and (B) to prevent the malign efforts described in that paragraph