After being selected in late November by President Trump, Brooke Rollins has been confirmed by the US Senate today to serve as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary. The U.S. Senate voted 72-28 Thursday to confirm Brooke Rollins as the department head. Rollins will take over a department with more than 100,000 people, a $213 billion budget and more than 3,000 county offices.
A native Texan, Rollins was an adviser for Trump’s economic policies in his first term and gained more influence in Trump’s world as founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. Rollins told senators during her confirmation hearing that the USDA would be prepared to again provide aid to farmers if they face retaliatory tariffs as President Donald Trump implements his trade policies.
Many ag groups and leaders praised the confirmation including US House Committee on Agriculture Chairmen Glenn “GT” Thompson R-PA).
“Brooke is a proven leader who understands the challenges facing farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” said Thompson. “She is taking the helm of USDA at a critical juncture for our producers, and her experience and commitment to agriculture will be invaluable as we work together to strengthen the farm economy. I look forward to working with Secretary Rollins to deliver results for rural America and the hardworking men and women of agriculture.”Â
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom also congratulated Secretary Rollins on her confirmation.
“We look forward to working with her and the USDA team to expand global demand for U.S. red meat. As evidenced by the strong bipartisan support her nomination received in the U.S. Senate, Secretary Rollins is recognized as a champion for U.S. agriculture and a powerful advocate for free market principles,” said Halstrom.
Thompson’s counterpart, Angie Craig – US House Ag Committee Ranking Member, also congratulated Secretary Rollins on her confirmation and looks forward to building a strong working relationship.
“Secretary Rollins begins her new role at a critical time for American agriculture,” said Craig. “Family farmers are struggling with high input costs and low prices; tariffs are being proposed that will raise costs on American producers and American consumers; the agricultural workforce is being threatened; and Congress is behind schedule in passing a new, bipartisan farm bill. If we want to tackle these challenges in a way that supports family farmers and the communities they feed, we will need to work together.”
Rollins becomes the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
