US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Broke Rollins as the next agriculture secretary, completing his proposals for heading executive agencies. Rollins is a trusted ally of Trump and has served as White House domestic policy chief. She has been picked to lead the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the nomination has to be confirmed by the Senate. The department is responsible for managing critical areas such as food quality, farming, and federal nutrition programs.
Who is Broke Rollins?
Rollins is 52 years old and has expertise in the policy and legal field. She is a University graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development. She also has a law degree from the University of Texas. She has served in various crucial roles as an aide to former Texas Governor Rick Perry and also has run the Texas Public Policy Foundation which is a think tank. Rollins has headed domestic policy initiatives at the White House during Trump’s first term and presently heads the America First Policy Institute, a group that deals in advancing Trump’s agenda for a second term.
Her nomination marks the completion of key Cabinet picks, however other positions known as Cabinet-level like US Trade Representative are pending. During Trump’s first term, his agriculture policies usually centered on trade politics. Tariffs from his administration invited retaliatory measures from countries like China, which also impacted major American exports like corn and soybeans.
To lessen the amount of the consequences, his administration provided billions of aid to the farmers. Rollins is expected to handle similar challenges in Trump’s second term.
All about USDA
The USDA was established in 1862 under President Abraham Lincoln and plays a major role in ensuring food security and assisting rural communities. It also keeps a check on the safety standards for eggs, poultry, and meat. The Department also manages school meal programs and supplies nutrition aid to low-income families. Rollins will also work together with other departments like Health and Human Services (HHS) and programs like Dietary Guidelines for Americans. She will be tackling all the challenges in nutrition, agriculture, and trade policy.
(With inputs from AP)