Trump appoints loyalist Rollins as USDA head in unexpected choice
Rollins, a farm-raised individual, received a nomination following several weeks of intense maneuvering.
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Brooke Rollins as Agriculture Secretary, following weeks of intense discussions within his transition team, as reported by two sources familiar with the conversations.
Rollins previously held positions as the director of the Office of American Innovation and the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term. Since then, she has co-founded and led the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that has been described as Trump’s potential White House in waiting and has played a significant role in the transition.
Despite her surprise nomination—given her limited experience in agriculture policy compared to others on Trump’s shortlist—Rollins has a personal connection to farming, having grown up on a farm. The decision to select her, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, followed ongoing debates among Trump’s advisers, family members, and influential agricultural organizations regarding the position.
The USDA chief role has garnered more attention as one of the last major Cabinet positions remaining for Trump to fill. Rollins was initially considered for Trump's chief of staff but was ultimately passed over in favor of Susie Wiles. The Agriculture Department manages an annual budget exceeding $430 billion and employs around 100,000 individuals, overseeing nearly all aspects of the country's $1.5 trillion food and agriculture sector.
“She was the last person standing at Mar-a-Lago,” said one insider who requested anonymity to discuss the transition candidly.
The competition for the USDA chief intensified in the final hours, particularly after reports surfaced that Trump was expected to nominate former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler for the role. Trump, who maintains regular communication with Rollins, spoke with her about the position earlier this week, according to another source.
Rollins's Texas roots are expected to resonate positively with Southern agriculture groups, and she holds a degree in agricultural development. Although GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed surprise at her selection, she is anticipated to face a relatively smooth confirmation process in the Senate.
If confirmed, Rollins will oversee the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to more than 40 million low-income Americans. Republicans have been looking for ways to reduce spending on the program as part of a significant reconciliation package for 2025, as previously reported by PMG.
Additionally, Rollins will have significant sway over agricultural policy and farm subsidies that are vital to the U.S. food system, which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has indicated a desire to reform.
In a statement regarding her appointment, Trump suggested that substantial changes at the USDA may not be forthcoming: “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country.”
The agriculture sector will look to Rollins to mitigate Trump’s proposals for additional widespread tariffs on China and other primary agricultural trading partners. Lawmakers from farm-reliant states have grown increasingly cautious about Trump’s tariff agenda following his 2018 trade war, which led to severe retaliatory measures against U.S. farmers. However, Rollins is known as a Trump supporter who has praised his economic strategies, making it unlikely she will strongly oppose these actions.
Conservative agricultural organizations had hoped for a nominee with robust experience to counter Kennedy’s growing influence; while they currently see Rollins as a potentially favorable choice, her positions on traditional agricultural policies remain uncertain.
Shortly after the announcement on Saturday, Rollins expressed her enthusiasm in a post on X, stating, “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities.”
“WHO’S READY TO MAKE AGRICULTURE GREAT AGAIN?” she added.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Rollins previously held positions as the director of the Office of American Innovation and the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term. Since then, she has co-founded and led the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that has been described as Trump’s potential White House in waiting and has played a significant role in the transition.
Despite her surprise nomination—given her limited experience in agriculture policy compared to others on Trump’s shortlist—Rollins has a personal connection to farming, having grown up on a farm. The decision to select her, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, followed ongoing debates among Trump’s advisers, family members, and influential agricultural organizations regarding the position.
The USDA chief role has garnered more attention as one of the last major Cabinet positions remaining for Trump to fill. Rollins was initially considered for Trump's chief of staff but was ultimately passed over in favor of Susie Wiles. The Agriculture Department manages an annual budget exceeding $430 billion and employs around 100,000 individuals, overseeing nearly all aspects of the country's $1.5 trillion food and agriculture sector.
“She was the last person standing at Mar-a-Lago,” said one insider who requested anonymity to discuss the transition candidly.
The competition for the USDA chief intensified in the final hours, particularly after reports surfaced that Trump was expected to nominate former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler for the role. Trump, who maintains regular communication with Rollins, spoke with her about the position earlier this week, according to another source.
Rollins's Texas roots are expected to resonate positively with Southern agriculture groups, and she holds a degree in agricultural development. Although GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed surprise at her selection, she is anticipated to face a relatively smooth confirmation process in the Senate.
If confirmed, Rollins will oversee the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to more than 40 million low-income Americans. Republicans have been looking for ways to reduce spending on the program as part of a significant reconciliation package for 2025, as previously reported by PMG.
Additionally, Rollins will have significant sway over agricultural policy and farm subsidies that are vital to the U.S. food system, which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has indicated a desire to reform.
In a statement regarding her appointment, Trump suggested that substantial changes at the USDA may not be forthcoming: “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country.”
The agriculture sector will look to Rollins to mitigate Trump’s proposals for additional widespread tariffs on China and other primary agricultural trading partners. Lawmakers from farm-reliant states have grown increasingly cautious about Trump’s tariff agenda following his 2018 trade war, which led to severe retaliatory measures against U.S. farmers. However, Rollins is known as a Trump supporter who has praised his economic strategies, making it unlikely she will strongly oppose these actions.
Conservative agricultural organizations had hoped for a nominee with robust experience to counter Kennedy’s growing influence; while they currently see Rollins as a potentially favorable choice, her positions on traditional agricultural policies remain uncertain.
Shortly after the announcement on Saturday, Rollins expressed her enthusiasm in a post on X, stating, “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities.”
“WHO’S READY TO MAKE AGRICULTURE GREAT AGAIN?” she added.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
