US President-elect Donald Trump is predicted to nominate Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, as agriculture secretary, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
If confirmed, Rollins would lead a 100,000-employee agency with offices in every county across the country, covering agricultural and nutrition programs, forestry, home and agricultural lending, food security, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. In 2024, it had a budget of $437.2 billion.
Trump's transition team didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
The candidate's agenda would impact America's food plan and wallet, each urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, provide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, amongst other tasks.
The America First Policy Institute is a right-wing think tank whose staff has worked closely with Trump's campaign to assist shape his latest administration's policies. She led the Domestic Policy Council during Trump's first term.
If confirmed, Rollins would advise the federal government on how and whether to introduce clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector hopes to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
The candidate would also lead next 12 months's renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, within the shadow of disputes over Mexico's try and ban imports of genetically modified corn and Canada's milk import quotas.
Trump has said he plans to reimpose sweeping tariffs that can likely impact the agricultural sector.
He is considering offering the role to former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a staunch ally he selected to co-chair his inaugural committee, CNN reported Friday.
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