President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Brooke Rollins to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), further solidifying his ties to Texas with another key appointment. Rollins, who was born and raised in Glen Rose, Texas, is currently serving as the president of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), an organization established in 2021 to promote Trump’s policy agenda following his loss in the 2020 election.
Rollins has a long history of supporting Trump’s political initiatives, dating back to his 2016 campaign when she served on his Economic Advisory Council. She also led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Austin, prior to her role at AFPI. In a statement, Trump praised Rollins for her “incredible job” serving in various policy roles during his first term, calling her a strong advocate for his administration’s agenda.
The nomination of Rollins to lead the USDA is significant, as the department oversees the nation’s food supply and the farmers who sustain it. With a budget of $213 billion and more than 106,000 employees, the USDA also manages programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. Rollins’ leadership at the USDA would give her significant influence over policies affecting both agriculture and nutrition in the United States.
Although there were earlier reports suggesting that Trump might nominate Kelly Loeffler, the former U.S. senator from Georgia, Rollins’ selection was ultimately confirmed. Texas Agriculture Secretary Sid Miller had also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the position, but Rollins emerged as the final choice.
The nomination of Rollins is the latest in a series of appointments that reflect Trump’s efforts to bring more Texans into his cabinet. Just one day prior, he named Scott Turner, a former state representative from Frisco, as his pick to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Both Rollins’ and Turner’s nominations will require Senate confirmation before becoming official.
In addition to Rollins and Turner, other Texans named to high-profile positions in the new administration include U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, who was tapped as CIA director, former Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, now residing in Leander, Texas, for director of national intelligence, and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has a primary residence in Cameron County, for an unpaid role leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Rollins’ nomination signals a continued alignment between Trump’s policies and the conservative priorities of Texas, and if confirmed, she will play a key role in shaping the future of American agriculture.
