She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in ag development from Texas A&M University in 1994
President-elect Trump nominated Brooke Rollins to be the 33rd head of the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none,” he said in a statement, adding Rollins will lead the effort to protect American farmers.
Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in ag development before going on to earn her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
In 2007 she became the first female speaker at the College Station Aggie Muster, which celebrates the lives of Texas A&M Students who have passed away.
She served in multiple roles during Trump’s first presidency, including as the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council.
After Trump’s first term, Rollins formed and became the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, which promotes Trump’s public policies.
Rollins is ready to step into this cabinet position.
“It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities,” she said on X. “This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX – truly the American Dream at its greatest.”
Multiple ag groups congratulated Rollins on her nomination and highlighted some of the issues and opportunities ahead.
“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,” Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said in a statement. “Effective leadership at USDA is more important than ever as farmers and ranchers face a struggling agricultural economy.”
The National Corn Growers Association looks forward to working with Rollins “on the issues of importance to production agriculture, including the expansion of domestic and international markets for corn and improved farm and tax policies.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is confident Rollins is the kind of leader the USDA needs.
“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,” Ethan Lane, VP of government affairs with the livestock group, said in a statement.
Rollins, like all cabinet nominees, must receive Senate confirmation.
During Trump’s first presidency, he nominated Sonny Perdue as his secretary of agriculture on Jan. 19, 2017.
Perdue had his hearing on March 23 and received confirmation on April 24.
Senate confirmations are expected to begin in January to get the nominees sworn in before Trump takes office.
If confirmed, Rollins would be the second woman to hold the position after Ann Veneman, who held it from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush.