In a recent announcement, President-elect Donald Trump has revealed his intention to nominate Brooke Rollins, a former White House aide and a long-time associate, for the position of Agriculture Secretary. This choice marks the last of his nominations for executive agency leadership, once again selecting from his established circle of advisors and allies.
However, this nomination is subject to Senate approval, which will be under Republican control as Trump assumes office on January 20, 2025. If confirmed, Rollins will succeed Tom Vilsack, the current Agriculture Secretary under President Biden. Vilsack manages a vast agency that handles policies, regulations, and aid programs associated with agriculture, forestry, ranching, food quality, and nutrition.
Rollins, an alumnus of Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, formerly served as Trump’s domestic policy chief. Currently, she is the CEO and president of the America First Policy Institute, an organization contributing to the groundwork for a potential second Trump administration.
At 52, Rollins’ resume includes a stint as an aide to ex-Texas Governor Rick Perry and as the head of a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
With Rollins’ nomination, Trump completes his selection for the heads of executive branch departments, a mere two and a half weeks post his re-election. However, several other traditionally Cabinet-level nominations, including the U.S. Trade Representative and head of the Small Business Administration, remain.
During his campaign, Trump didn’t reveal much about his agriculture policies. However, his pledge to impose widespread tariffs could impact farmers. In his previous tenure, countries like China retaliated against Trump’s tariffs by imposing reciprocal tariffs on U.S. exports, such as corn and soybeans. Trump responded by providing substantial aid to farmers to help them cope with the trade war.
The USDA, founded in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln, oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of the nation’s food supply. It also runs federal nutrition programs, provides food to low-income people, pregnant women, and young children, and sets standards for school meals.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services, has pledged to remove ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and restrict food stamp usage for purchasing junk food. However, these changes would be implemented by the USDA, not HHS.
Additionally, HHS and USDA will collaborate to finalize the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, due next year, which provide guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs.
