JUST IN: Trump Nominee Confirmed In 72-28 Vote

On Thursday, the Senate voted 72-28 to confirm Brooke Rollins as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, marking another swift cabinet confirmation for President Donald Trump in his second term.

Despite Democratic opposition, the nomination process moved quickly. Senators agreed to expedite floor proceedings after Rollins received unanimous approval from the Senate Agriculture Committee, allowing for a faster confirmation timeline.

Rollins, a conservative lawyer and longtime Trump ally, secured near-unanimous Republican support. However, more Senate Democrats opposed her nomination than anticipated, including Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), both of whom had previously helped advance her from the Senate Agriculture Committee.

In less than four weeks, President Trump has secured confirmation for 16 Cabinet nominees, a pace that surpasses that of previous administrations. At this point in his first term, he had confirmed 11, while former President Joe Biden had only seven.

Neither reached 16 until March. The position oversees federal policies related to farming, food safety, rural development, and nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.

Rollins will now play a crucial role in shaping agricultural policy, supporting American farmers, regulating food production, and managing forestry and conservation efforts. The USDA also handles international trade policies for agricultural products, which can be affected by tariffs and trade agreements.

The position is particularly important during times of economic uncertainty, labor shortages in the farming sector, or major changes to immigration policy—issues that can impact food production and rural economies.

Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development. She was the first woman elected student body president.

She later earned a law degree with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. Before joining the Trump administration, Rollins led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, and served as policy director for former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

During Trump’s first term, she was acting director of the Domestic Policy Council. In 2021, she co-founded the America First Policy Institute, a group that champions the former president’s agenda, and served as its president and chief executive. A strong supporter of cutting regulatory burdens, Rollins has pushed to eliminate unnecessary federal rules, including the Waters of the United States rule, which she argues places significant financial and operational strains on farmers and ranchers.

She has also backed rural development initiatives, promoting infrastructure investments such as expanded broadband access to ensure economic opportunities reach the rural communities that form the backbone of American agriculture. Rollins has also taken a firm stance against policies she believes harm the agricultural sector.

She has rejected the Green New Deal, contending that its environmental regulations create excessive hurdles that threaten farm productivity and long-term sustainability. Additionally, she opposes what she considers federal overreach in agriculture, arguing that excessive regulations undermine property rights and restrict the ability of family farms to thrive.

Rollins assumes leadership of the Department of Agriculture at a time of heightened concerns over labor shortages in the farming industry and the potential impact of tariffs on agricultural exports.