Trump picks Brooke Rollins to lead Department of Agriculture | Trump administration

Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be Secretary of Agriculture.

“As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead efforts to protect American farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country,” the US president-elect said in a statement.

Trump’s nomination of Rollins marks the end of his top picks for his incoming administration.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country whose mandate includes agriculture and nutrition programs, forestry, housing and agricultural lending, food security, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of DKK 437.2 billion. USD in 2024.

The nominee’s agenda would have ramifications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Agriculture Department officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities.

“Brooke’s commitment to supporting the American farmer, the defense of American food self-sufficiency and the restoration of agriculture-dependent small-town America is unparalleled,” Trump said in the statement.

In response to his nomination, Rollins wrote on X: “Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next United States Secretary of Agriculture. It will be the honor of my lifetime to fight for America’s farmers and our nation’s agricultural community. These are great things for a small town girl from Glen Rose, TX – truly the American dream at its greatest.”

She added: “Who’s ready to make farming great again!”

The America First Policy Institute is a right-wing think tank whose staff has worked closely with Trump’s campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. Rollins chaired the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term.

As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector hopes to grow through the production of sustainable jet fuel.

The nominee would also guide next year’s renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico trade deal, overshadowed by disputes over Mexico’s attempts to prevent imports of genetically modified corn and Canada’s dairy import quotas.

Trump has said he plans to again impose sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the agricultural sector.

He considered offering the role to former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally whom he tapped to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported Friday.

In a separate announcement Saturday, Trump called on Randy Fine, a former gaming industry executive and current Florida state senator, to run in a special election to represent the state’s sixth congressional district in the House of Representatives.

Trump’s endorsement of Fine comes after he named Mike Waltz, Florida’s current sixth congressional district representative, to serve as his national security adviser.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump called Fine “an incredible voice for MAGA.”

“Should he decide to enter this race, Randy Fine has my complete and total support. RUN, RANDY, RUN!” Trump added.