US agriculture secretary – Trump nominates Brooke Rollins

US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins, now president of the America First Policy Institute. The nomination must still be approved by the Senate.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a huge organisation with offices in every county in the country, employing 100,000 people. The federal ministry’s budget this year is US$437 billion, according to Reuters.

The USDA is not only concerned about agriculture, but also food policy and food education. The production and blending of biofuels is also an important item in the US. Trump calls the agricultural sector the “backbone” of the country and wants Rollins to make it stronger.

News channel CNN noted that, as secretary of agriculture, Rollins would have a lot of dealings with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who will become secretary of health. He has also announced his intention to become involved in agriculture and agribusiness.

Rollins will succeed Tom Vilsack, who served as agriculture secretary under President Biden and previously for 8 years under Obama.