Trump Taps Texas Native Brooke Rollins for Secretary of Agriculture

Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, has officially been selected to serve as USDA Secretary. President-elect Donald Trump made the announcement Saturday, saying her “commitment to support the American farmer, the defense of American food self-sufficiency and the restoration of agriculture-dependent American small towns is second to none.”

Rollins is the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a think tank established by former Trump officials to promote conservative policies. AFPI has advocated for curbing foreign ownership — particularly from China — of U.S. farmland, an issue with bipartisan support in Congress. She served as the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) from 2003 to 2018, where she significantly expanded the organization and positioned it as a leading state-based think tank.

During Trump’s first term, she served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. In these roles, she was instrumental in shaping key domestic policies across various sectors.

Rollins has strong ties to key figures in Trump first administration, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Her relationships within this network might facilitate collaboration on agricultural policies and initiatives.

Educational Background
Rollins holds a degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University in 1994, where she also became the first female student body president.

Her educational credentials are complemented by her practical experience, having grown up on a farm in Texas.

Rollins thanked Trump on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday following the announcement, saying: “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX — truly the American Dream at its greatest,” Rollins said in her X post.

Given her educational background and professional focus, Rollins has developed insights into agricultural policies, trade issues and rural development, which are critical for USDA’s mission.

3 Key Focus Areas
In her new role, Rollins is expected to focus on several key areas, including:

1. Support for American farmers. Rollins has expressed a strong commitment to advocating for American farmers, emphasizing food self-sufficiency and the revitalization of agriculture-dependent small towns.
2. Trade policies. A significant challenge will be managing Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports, which aim to boost domestic production but could disrupt critical export markets for U.S. farmers. Rollins will need to navigate these complex trade dynamics while supporting agricultural interests.
3. Rural development. Her background and personal connection to rural America position her well to address issues affecting rural communities, including economic development and food assistance programs.

Bottomline:

Rollins is going to be an impact player in the Trump administration. And will be highly effective on issues impacting ag and food that are in the purview of other Federal Departments and agencies.

Her nomination reflects Trump’s broader strategy of appointing loyalists with deep ties to his administration as he seeks to advance his economic agenda in a potential second term. Her leadership at AFPI has prepared her for this role, aligning with Trump’s vision of prioritizing American interests in agriculture and beyond.

As she steps into this pivotal position, Rollins will be tasked with not only implementing agricultural policies, but also addressing the challenges posed by current trade practices and supporting the livelihoods of American farmers amidst changing economic conditions.

Last-Minute Change?

Trump also had considered nominating former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, whom he has already tapped to co-chair his inaugural committee, to serve as Agriculture Secretary, CNN reported Friday. CNN initially said Trump was poised to offer the post to Loeffler, who reportedly met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon.

CNN said there had been several discussions between Loeffler and the transition team regarding the position. “But Trump held off from announcing his Agriculture pick as he issued a slew of others Friday night, raising questions about whether Loeffler was ultimately offered the post.”