Rollins Commits to Prioritizing Farmers During Agriculture Secretary Confirmation Hearing

Brooke Rollins, nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of Secretary of Agriculture, informed committee members during her confirmation hearing on January 23 that her primary objective, should she assume office, will be to aid family farms and the broader agricultural community.

“I fully recognize that my confirmation would come at a time of significant economic challenges in American agricultural history,” Rollins stated.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are currently 550,000 fewer farms in the U.S. than in 1980, with over 150 million acres no longer producing commercial crops.

“It is evident that we all agree on the vital role farmers and ranchers play in our nation’s communities. I commit today that, if confirmed, I will do everything within my power to ensure the prosperity of our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” she continued.

Rollins expressed enthusiasm for the initiative to “revitalize, restore, and reinvigorate rural America,” emphasizing that supporting housing and education for rural citizens is among her objectives.

She concurred with Senate Agriculture Committee members that the trend of multinational corporations acquiring farms adversely affects smaller farms and warrants attention.

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“We must discover more effective solutions that do not rely solely on government subsidies. Expanding market access is essential,” Rollins stated.

This agency manages national forests, agricultural lending programs, food safety inspections, rural development, commodity trade policies, wildfire response, school meal standards, and nutrition programs supporting low-income individuals, pregnant women, and young children.

A Texas native, Rollins previously served as CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. She holds degrees from Texas A&M and the University of Texas Law School.

During Trump’s first term, Rollins was his domestic policy chief. She also held the positions of general deputy counsel and policy adviser under former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

In the Biden administration, Rollins led the America First Policy Institute, launched in 2021 alongside former National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow.

Farm Bill, Tariffs

Should Rollins be confirmed, her primary challenge will involve persuading Congress to approve the five-year Farm Bill.

“I am eager to collaborate with this committee and the House Agriculture Committee to pass a Farm Bill that offers farmers the certainty and stability they require,” she expressed in her introductory remarks.

This omnibus bill includes policies related to agriculture, conservation, and nutrition. It was signed into law by Trump in 2018 and has been extended on two occasions.

Approved by the House in 2024 but still awaiting consideration in the Senate, the Farm Bill outlines $1.46 trillion in expenditures over the next ten years.

The 2018 Farm Bill expired for a second time on September 30, 2024, with the latest extension providing Congress until September 30, 2025, to enact a new bill.

In her opening remarks, Rollins laid out her immediate priorities.

“It is crucial that the disaster and economic assistance authorized by Congress is rolled out swiftly and efficiently,” she said.

Rollins emphasized that the USDA must join forces with community and state leaders to address “the state of animal disease outbreaks” and to “immediately begin to modernize, realign, and rethink” the USDA.

Long-term, Rollins highlighted that the USDA must guarantee that rural communities are “equipped and empowered to thrive” by removing “burdensome regulations that stifle innovation” and fostering “strong and stable” domestic and export markets for farmers, among other ambitions.

Tariffs were a significant topic during the confirmation hearing.

During Trump’s first term, tariffs on Chinese products prompted retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans, forcing the Trump administration to compensate farmers with billions to counter their losses.

Trump signaled the possibility of imposing new tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada.

Rollins indicated a willingness to consider direct payments to farmers affected by planned tariffs, noting her discussions with Sonny Perdue, who served as Secretary of Agriculture during Trump’s first administration, about navigating the trade conflict.

When questioned by Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) regarding her approach to Trump’s trade strategy, she mentioned her commitment to working with the administration to tackle challenges farmers and ranchers may face due to tariffs.

Rollins remarked that Trump saw tariffs as “an essential tool in his strategy to re-establish America’s prominence globally and maintain a robust economy.”

“Nevertheless,” she added, “he was also aware of the potential devastating consequences for our farmers and ranchers. I am fully aware of this and we stand ready to take actions similar to those taken in the first term, to ensure we can mitigate adverse impacts arising from any tariff implementations.”

Other Topics

Rollins is anticipated to collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on several issues, assuming both receive Senate confirmation. Kennedy is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, with his confirmation hearing set for January 29.

The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must finalize the 2025–30 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by late 2025.

Kennedy has expressed his intention to eliminate ultra-processed foods from school lunches, eradicate harmful substances from food, and implement other measures to combat what he terms a “chronic disease epidemic” in the U.S.

The former Democrat and independent presidential candidate has also vowed to exclude candy, soda, and other “junk foods” from being purchased with food stamps under the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Boozman inquired whether Rollins would commit to reviewing SNAP to ensure that beneficiaries are encouraged to “seek steady employment.”

“It is vital that every taxpayer dollar allocated to this program reaches its intended recipients and that these individuals can use it effectively for nutritional purposes,” Rollins replied, stressing the importance of spending the funds “in the most effective manner possible.”

Trump has promised extensive deportations of undocumented immigrants. Some lawmakers have raised alarms that this move could raise labor costs for farmers and increase food prices for consumers. The USDA reported that over 40 percent of agricultural workers lacked legal immigration status between 2020 and 2022, a concern highlighted by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) during the hearing.

In defense of Trump’s mass deportation strategy, Rollins stated, “I genuinely believe he will execute the agenda he has promised to the American public, while still prioritizing our agricultural community.”

Numerous Democrats at the hearing queried how farms could remain operational without sufficient labor.

Rollins reiterated her intention to work with the Department of Labor to “modernize and refine” the H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers to ensure that no farms or dairy producers are jeopardized.

She added that Trump has clearly stated that the first phase of deportations would target “those who have committed crimes.”