President-elect Donald Trump named Brooke Rollins to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rollins, a Texas native, is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank launched in 2021 to promote Trump’s economic policies. A conservative lawyer, Rollins also served as acting director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council at the end of Trump’s first term.
If confirmed, Rollins would oversee a sprawling department that influences nearly every part of the food and agriculture industry, from trade policy to food safety. She would also be responsible for administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
“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.
Rollins is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she received an undergraduate degree in agricultural leadership and development. She has also been involved with Future Farmers of America and 4H, with the statement saying she guides “her four kids in their show cattle careers.”
“It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities,” Rollins wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding in all caps: “Who’s ready to make agriculture great again?”
Farm groups gave somewhat of a muted endorsement of Rollins, with multiple organizations saying “strong leadership” will be needed to address challenges facing agriculture. The American Farm Bureau Federation said Rollins has a “good relationship” with the Texas Farm Bureau, something the national group hopes “to build on” if she’s confirmed.
“We’re encouraged by her statement that she’d ‘fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural communities,'” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy.”
Progressive groups, however, have panned Rollins’ lack of experience in agriculture, with the Union of Concerned Scientists saying she “appears to have no agricultural policy track record to comment on.”
“This appears to be another example of President-elect Trump doling out cabinet appointments for loyalty rather than expertise,” Karen Perry Stillerman, deputy director of UCS’ Food and Environment Program. “Our nation’s farmers, food workers, consumers and the public servants at the USDA deserve a secretary who knows and cares about the challenges they face.”
Agriculture Secretary was among the last Trump cabinet positions to be filled, and the pick ends weeks of speculation among powerful agricultural groups. Multiple news organizations had reported Trump was also considering former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who briefly served on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The choice of Rollins instead gives another boost to the AFPI, which has quickly positioned itself to become one of the most influential groups in Trump’s second term. In addition to Rollins, Trump chose AFPI chairwoman and former professional wrestler Linda McMahon to be education secretary.
Still, Rollins is somewhat controversial among Trump’s most right-wing backers, who see her as part of the Republican party’s “old guard” dedicated to preserving free trade and business-friendly policies, according to Politico and other news organizations. Rollins was first considered to be the president-elect’s chief of staff, which eventually went to Trump campaign chair Susie Wiles.