United States Department of Agriculture Under New Management
Photo courtesy of USDA
Congratulations to Brooke Rollins, who was sworn in as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on February 13, 2025.
American Horse Council (AHC) staff attended her welcome reception at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Engaging in a brief conversation, we found Secretary Rollins quite conversant on issues important to the equine industry and community. We are also pleased to note that Dudley Hoskins, a former Director of Health & Regulatory Affairs at the AHC, is the nominee for Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
In her testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, Rollins fielded many questions on the Farm Bill, avian flu, and nutrition assistance programs. She committed to exploring improvements to rural development programs, called for strong and steady domestic and export markets for American agricultural products, pledged to eliminate burdensome and costly regulations, and vowed to make USDA nutrition programs effective and efficient.
The “effective and efficient” movement began in earnest as the USDA announced cuts to staffing and the freezing of contracts. As in most agencies, the initial layoffs involve employees in their probationary periods as either new hires or newly promoted.
Social media reports cite staff dismissals from the Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network central program office. Rollins reported that all staff at USDA will return to the workplace.
Background
Secretary Rollins is originally from Glen Rose, Texas. She was active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America and grew up showing livestock, raising horses, and barrel racing.
Rollins graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development and was the first female to be elected student body president. After earning her Juris Doctor with honors at the University of Texas School of Law, she served as Governor Rick Perry’s policy director before running the Texas Public Policy Foundation for 15 years.
Most recently, Rollins served as the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the America First Policy Institute. During President Trump’s first administration, she was the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives in the White House.