On Nov. 23 President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Texas businesswoman Brooke Rollins for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
In his announcement, Trump said Rollins, who serves as President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI)and who previously served as Acting Director of the Domestic Policy Council is well-qualified to lead the USDA.
Trump referenced Rollins’ roles in his first administration, noting her work on the 2016 Economic Advisory Council and the Domestic Policy Council, where she “helped develop and manage the transformational Domestic Policy Agenda.”
“It is my Great Honor to nominate Brooke L. Rollins, from the Great State of Texas, to serve as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture,” Trump said. “Brooke was on my 2016 Economic Advisory Council and 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.”
Trump added: “In these roles, she helped develop and manage the transformational Domestic Policy Agenda of my Administration. Brooke has spent the past four years as the Founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), building a team of loyal Patriots, and championing the Policies of our America First Agenda.”
Trump also noted that “Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of America Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none. A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors. 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 practioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.
As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country. Congratulations Brooke!”
Rollins posted on X, thanking the President-elect and saying she would be honored to serve as Agriculture Secretary and “to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities.”
She posted, “Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture,” Rollins wrote. “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’ nomination has been well-received by several ag/produce organizations, including the IFPA, which said, “The International Fresh Produce Association congratulates Brooke Rollins on being nominated to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. We look forward to collaborating with Secretary-elect Rollins, pending Senate confirmation, and the Trump administration to strengthen American agriculture by reducing regulatory burdens, expanding market opportunities and addressing the labor challenges that threaten U.S. farmers’ competitiveness both domestically and worldwide. We especially appreciate the incoming administration’s focus on health and are eager to expand access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to enhance the well-being of all Americans.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said, “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. We’re encouraged by her statement that she’d ‘fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural communities. Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy.”
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said, “I am hopeful her rural roots instilled in her the important role family farmers and ranchers play in supporting our nation’s economy. If confirmed, Ms. Rollins will begin her tenure at a time when family farmers and our communities face historic challenges, including soaring input costs, difficult market conditions, extreme weather events, and the ongoing need for the certainty of a five-year farm bill. We are eager to collaborate on solutions that ensure fair markets, a robust agriculture economy, and vibrant rural communities. Together, we can advance a stronger future for agriculture and rural America,”
And he National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney stated, “NASDA members look forward to working with a leader who is committed to ensuring agriculture leads the way toward a healthy and resilient world. As co-regulators with the federal government on environmental, agricultural, and food safety policies, NASDA will work with Brooke Rollins to continue seeking innovative opportunities and solutions for our food, fiber, and fuel supply.”
