Donald Trump on Saturday announced his selection for agriculture secretary, naming policy advocate Brooke Rollins to the final top post in his incoming cabinet. Rollins, a loyal figure from Trump’s first term, rounds out his team as he prepares to return to office in January.
The Republican has been expeditious in assembling his inner circle, which includes a mix of TV personalities, U.S. senators, and governors, to lead key government agencies. Rollins, 52, currently serves as CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a non-profit focused on advancing Trump’s agenda and often referred to as his “White House in waiting.” Several other Trump nominees also have close connections to the organization.
With this appointment, Trump has now filled all the top cabinet positions, though some lower-level roles, like the heads of the Small Business Administration and Office of Science and Technology, remain unannounced. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins will oversee the expansive Department of Agriculture, which employs roughly 100,000 people and plays a critical role in areas such as farming programs, research and trade, food safety, animal and plant health, forest management, and food assistance for over 40 million Americans.
Trump praised Rollins for her “commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.” During Trump’s first term, Rollins temporarily headed his Domestic Policy Council, and her appointment reflects a more traditional conservative approach to the role.
Her leadership, however, may clash with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s health secretary nominee, who has been outspoken against the corporate agriculture industry. Kennedy has vowed to enhance American nutrition by targeting ultra-processed foods and harmful chemicals.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over the Trump team’s refusal to sign critical transition agreements required by U.S. law. Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted this issue in a letter to the General Services Administration on Thursday, warning that the delay jeopardizes national security and public safety. Warren pointed out that without these agreements, the FBI cannot initiate necessary background checks for high-level appointees, potentially hindering Trump’s administration from addressing urgent challenges from day one.