Brooke Rollins has been nominated to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA has a multi-billion-dollar annual budget and employs approximately 100,000 workers nationwide. It oversees critical programs, including farm subsidies, food safety inspections, nutrition assistance programs, and rural development initiatives.
Lack of Relevant Experience
Rollins has no substantial agricultural policy experience beyond her undergraduate degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University. Her primary career experience has been focused on conservative policy advocacy and think tank leadership rather than agricultural policy or management. In her current role as CEO of America First Policy Institute (AFPI), she leads a politically focused think tank that has demonstrated minimal engagement with agricultural policy issues.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has notably stated that she "appears to have no agricultural policy track record to comment on." She has never managed a large government agency or overseen complex agricultural programs of any kind.
Critical Challenges Requiring Immediate Attention
The incoming Secretary will need to address several urgent agricultural crises, including an ongoing bird flu outbreak affecting more than 900 dairy herds across the United States.
The department faces immediate challenges, including an inadequate farm bill, complex regional and international trade negotiations, and the management of essential nutrition programs that impact millions of Americans.
Undermining Benefits for People in Need
In 2023, almost 42 million Americans received food stamps, but Rollins’ organization, AFPI, has criticized the expansion of these benefits under the Biden administration. Millions of low-income households rely on food stamps to help their families afford food, and with Rollins leading the department, they could potentially face a harder time affording groceries.
