Brooke Rollins Inches Closer to Confirmation as Agriculture Secretary
Lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture Committee have voted unanimously to advance Brooke Rollins, nominee for Secretary of Agriculture, to the full Senate for final confirmation. Having served as the head of the America First Policy Institute and as a senior official in Trump’s first administration, Rollins is no stranger to policymaking. During her January 23 confirmation hearing, she emphasized the need for reforms in agricultural labor programs and the importance of shielding farmers from the financial repercussions of trade disputes. With her deep ties to Trump and a clear policy vision, she appears poised to shape the USDA’s direction significantly.
Key Takeaways from Rollins’ Testimony
In her confirmation hearing, Rollins underscored her commitment to America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Rollins, who hails from a small agricultural town in Texas, spoke passionately about her deep-rooted connection to farming and ranching.
She outlined five primary objectives should she be confirmed:
Efficient Disaster and Economic Assistance: Ensuring swift deployment of aid authorized by Congress to farmers affected by economic downturns and natural disasters.
Animal Disease Management: Addressing and mitigating outbreaks such as H5N1 and New World Screwworm to protect American livestock.
Farm Bill Passage: Working with Congress to pass a Farm Bill that provides stability and predictability for farmers.
Revitalizing the USDA: Strengthening the department’s operations to better serve the needs of American agriculture.
Rural Development and Sustainability: Supporting rural communities through infrastructure improvements, regulatory reform, and workforce development to ensure long-term prosperity.
Rollins also emphasized her commitment to an “America First” approach, advocating for policies that prioritize domestic agricultural interests, including efforts to curb foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) pressed Rollins during her January 23 hearing on how she would address tariff retaliation. The Agriculture Department estimated that retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada, China, the European Union, India, Mexico, and Turkey in response to Trump’s first trade war resulted in more than $27 billion in lost U.S. agricultural exports—equivalent to an annualized loss of $13.2 billion between mid-2018 and the end of 2019.
Rollins acknowledged that while tariffs are a key tool in Trump's trade strategy, they come with significant risks. “Just as he did—and we did—in the first administration, he also understands the potential devastating impact on our farmers and ranchers,” she said. She indicated a willingness to use Section 5 authority under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to compensate farmers for lost exports should trading partners impose retaliatory tariffs. Former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue utilized the CCC to provide $12 billion in aid to farmers in 2018 and $16 billion in 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Rollins also said that she intends to work with the Labor Department on H-2A visas, a critical program that allows migrant workers to enter the U.S. for seasonal work.
Who Is Brooke Rollins?
A Texas native, Brooke Rollins has had a distinguished career in conservative policy circles. She holds a degree in Agricultural Development and Leadership from Texas A&M University, which laid the foundation for her extensive work in public policy.
Her early career saw her working for Texas Governor Rick Perry, where she played a crucial role in shaping agricultural policies for the state. She later led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, transforming it into a major think tank that influenced state and national policies. Under her leadership, the foundation expanded its focus on rural issues, landowner rights, and regulatory reform.
In 2018, Rollins joined the Trump administration, initially serving as the Director of the Office of American Innovation before being appointed as the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. In these roles, she spearheaded initiatives aimed at cutting government red tape, bolstering rural economies, and promoting conservative economic policies.
Following Trump’s departure from office in 2021, Rollins co-founded the America First Policy Institute, which has been instrumental in shaping the policy framework for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Her nomination to lead the USDA is an extension of her policy work, aligning with the administration’s goals of reducing regulatory burdens and fostering self-reliance in the agricultural sector.
