Agri-Pulse's Steve Davies reported at the end of November that "Marty Makary, a highly acclaimed surgeon who is an outspoken critic of the U.S. food system, the use of pesticides,…
Trump Picks Brooke Rollins for Ag Secretary
Reuters reported Sunday that “U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary.”
“‘As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,’ Trump said in a statement,” Reuters reported. “If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.”
“The nominee’s agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities,” Reuters reported. “‘Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none,’ Trump said in the statement.”
NPR’s Ximena Bustillo reported that “Rollins was previously the director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. She has a long history in conservative politics, including also running the Texas Public Policy Foundation.”
“Originally from Texas, she graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development. She then got her law degree at the University of Texas school of Law,” Bustillo reported. “During the first Trump administration, Rollins also served as assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives. After leaving the White House, Rollins was among a group of senior advisers to create the new nonprofit group aimed at promoting Trump’s policies.”
Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX — truly the… https://t.co/h91Zx3eEgl pic.twitter.com/DLgxrmZhH6
— Brooke Rollins (@BrookeLRollins) November 23, 2024
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “Rollins has not offered a lot of policy about agriculture in the American First Policy Institute, but the group has campaigned against Chinese ownership of U.S. property, an issue that has drawn a lot of attention in agriculture over the past few years.”
Ag Groups React
Successful Farming’s Natalina Sents Bausch and Mariah Squire reported that National Corn Growers Association “President Kenneth Hartman Jr. offered congratulations on behalf of the organization, ‘We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination to be the next Secretary of Agriculture. We look forward to working with Ms. Rollins and the president-elect on issues of importance to production agriculture, including the expansion of domestic and international markets for corn and improved farm and tax policies.'”
“House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), who was among the names floated for secretary, congratulated Rollins on the nomination on X. Thompson said he’s looking forward to working with Rollins ‘to make agriculture great again!'” Bausch and Squire reported.
We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination to be Secretary of Agriculture. We’re pleased she has a good relationship with our state Farm Bureau in Texas and hope to build on it if she’s confirmed by the Senate.
— Zippy Duvall (@ZippyDuvall) November 24, 2024
“Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor reacted to Rollins’ nomination saying, ‘Growth Energy looks forward to engaging with Secretary Designate Rollins and demonstrating how our industry is vital to growing jobs and innovation across rural America and unleashing American energy dominance. The USDA Secretary is rural America’s voice in the White House, and we will work hard to ensure Rollins is well-positioned to deliver on President Trump’s rural agenda, expand markets for homegrown renewable fuel, and bring more low-cost options to the pump,'” Bausch and Squire reported.
Clayton reported that “Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, also congratulated Rollins. ‘I am hopeful her rural roots instilled in her the important role family farmers and ranchers play in supporting our nation’s economy,’ Larew said.”
