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US president-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies.
Trump did not offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs.
During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on US exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war.
Rollins’ nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office on January 20, 2025.
She would succeed Tom Vilsack, US President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programmes related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition.
The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just 2½ weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally cabinet-level remain, including US trade representative and head of the small business administration.