Secretary Rollins announces new political appointments to USDA.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a slate of presidential appointments to leadership roles across the Department of Agriculture, naming officials to international, agency, and state posts.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a new slate of presidential appointments to key positions across the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The announcement lists appointees to international postings, senior USDA staff roles, agency chief positions, and state-level leadership. The release highlights the appointees' prior public service, agricultural backgrounds, and roles during previous administrations. Key appointments and backgrounds: - Doug Hoelscher was named Minister‑Counselor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome; his background includes roles at the America First Policy Institute, prior White House intergovernmental affairs work, and a farm upbringing in Iowa. - Tate Bennett was named Principal Deputy Chief of Staff, with prior roles at the White House National Economic Council, the EPA, and the America First Policy Institute. - Hailey Ghee was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and is noted for previous USDA, SBA, and U.S. House experience. - Mireya Brogan was named Chief of Staff for the Risk Management Agency and has experience in supply chain risk management at a federally funded R&D center and work expanding agricultural markets overseas. - Several state directors and Farm Service Agency state executive directors were named, including Troy Romero (State Director for Rural Development, Louisiana), Chris Lyons (State Director for Rural Development, Massachusetts/Connecticut/Rhode Island), Dom Restuccia (State Director for Rural Development, Michigan), Travis Day (State Director for Rural Development, New Mexico), Rob Sullivan (State Executive Director, Connecticut/Rhode Island), Cory Atkins (State Executive Director, Delaware), Starlyn Perdue (State Executive Director, Iowa), Philip Cowee (State Executive Director, Nevada), Wilmer Stoneman III (State Executive Director, Virginia), and Patrick Bell (State Executive Director, Washington). - Kennon (Ken) White was named Assistant Chief South Region for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and is described as having led a major environmental management organization with experience in stream restoration and conservation. Summary: The announcement places a group of experienced officials into leadership roles across international, agency, and state levels within USDA. Undetermined at this time.