President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 23 named Brooke L. Rollins as the country’s next secretary of Agriculture. A native of Texas, Rollins, 52, is the founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), a pair of organizations that have championed Trump’s agenda.
Rollins will take over a department with more than 100,000 people, a $213 billion budget and more than 3,000 county offices. USDA is responsible for the country’s main nutrition support programs, school lunches, farm programs and rural economic development. Rollins would also lead the Trump administration’s efforts to advise the next Congress on what should be included in a new farm bill.
One of the early decisions for the next Agriculture secretary also likely will consist of determining how to disburse an aid package for farmers currently being crafted in Congress. The Biden administration recently proposed a $24 billion disaster package for farmers and rural infrastructure.
On social platform X, Rollins commented: “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 American Dream at its greatest.”
Rollins also was a member of Trump’s Economic Advisory Council in 2016. In a statement, Trump said Rollins “did an incredible job during my first term as the director of the Domestic Policy Council, director of the Office of American Innovation, and assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. In these roles, she helped develop and manage the transformational domestic policy agenda of my administration.”
Rollins has a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Texas.
The transition team statement on Rollins said, “From her upbringing in the small and agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational family farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep policy credentials in both nonprofit and government leadership at the state and national levels.”
The announcement comes a day after news organizations, including DTN, reported former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) was in line for Agriculture secretary. CNN initially reported Loeffler was at Mar a Lago to meet about the position.
Trump on the evening of Nov. 22 named eight new nominees for his administration but Loeffler and Agriculture were not on the lists. Trump named Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) for Labor secretary, Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general, Scott Turner for Housing and Urban Development secretary, Russell Vought for the Office of Budget and Management, and Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Wall Street Journal cited, “different factions of the Trump transition team had divided over whom to pick to lead the Agriculture Department, according to people familiar with the matter.”
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.
Other positions are expected in the coming weeks, including deputy secretary, undersecretaries for trade, farm programs, research and nutrition, as well as directors for agencies such as the Farm Service Agency.
If confirmed, Rollins would be the country’s second female Agriculture secretary. Ann Veneman was the first woman to lead USDA from 2001-05 under then-President George W. Bush.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued a statement congratulating Rollins. “Brooke Rollins has a history of fighting for Main Street and rural America,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “America’s cattle producers need a secretary of Agriculture who will protect family farms and ranches, roll back crushing regulations, and stand up for rural values—and we look forward to working with Secretary-Designate Rollins to make it happen.” — Chris Clayton, DTN ag policy editor
