WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The outbreak has affected more than 136 million poultry flocks and nearly 1,000 dairy flocks and infected 67 people, with one person dying so far. Public health experts continue to rate the risk of infection as low, but are closely monitoring the spread of bird flu among farm workers and livestock, as well as domestic cats and other mammals.
The four-hour hearing Brooke Rollins likely has the support to secure Senate confirmation, despite concerns from members of both political parties about the decline in family farms being taken out of rural America, the speed at which USDA is providing disaster relief to farmers and future nutrition programs performs.
Tariffs and Trade
Rollins also received numerous questions from Democrats and Republicans about Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports, which likely led to retaliatory tariffs on American exports and a negative impact on farmers and food prices.
“In terms of the president’s tariff agenda, it probably comes as no surprise to anyone sitting in this room that it is a very important tool in his toolkit to continue to challenge or bring America back to the forefront of the world and ensure a prosperous one have economy,” Rollins said. “But like he and we in the first administration, he also understands the potential devastating impact on our farmers and our ranchers.”
Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan raised concerns about what happened during Trump’s first administration after he filed tariffs on both allied nations and China. She urged Rollins to make sure Trump understands that if he places steep tariffs on other countries, this would likely happen again.
“President Trump announced 25% tariffs on Chinese products – batteries, televisions, medical devices,” Slotkin said. “China retaliated by imposing 25% tariffs on soybeans, fruits, pork and some other items. Then we went into a trade war; We added more things to the list, they already added more things to the list. It went on and on and back and on and on.
“Suddenly our farmers all over the country are screaming bloody murder because… no one wanted to buy our stuff because it had a 25% tariff. We felt that very acutely. “
The former Trump administration then withdrew billions from the Commodity Credit Corporation to assist farmers hurt by the retaliatory tariffs, she said.
“This emergency fund is the same fund that helps us with things like bird flu that we’re dealing with right now across the country,” Slotkin said.
Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said he hopes the country doesn’t go down the same path it has before on tariffs and trade wars.
“It seems to me that for many Americans, trade has become a word that implies exporting jobs,” McConnell said. “In Kentucky, we view trade as exporting products and it is an extremely important part of what we do.”
Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet told Rollins that he was “concerned with some of the trade policies that President Trump tried to champion.”
“But agriculture is already in a tough spot … and we don’t want it to be in a tougher spot because of what’s happening here,” Bennet said.
He then asked Rollins if she would consider her responsibility as Secretary of Agriculture to “go into the Oval Office and say” you haven’t thought through the unintended consequences that will flow to American agriculture if you pursue these trade policies. ‘”
Rollins said her role, if confirmed, would be “to defend, to honor, to elevate our entire agricultural community in the Oval Office, at the table, through the interagency process.” And to ensure that every decision made over the next four years has made those decisions. “
Bird flu
Rollins was less certain about telling senators how to handle the ongoing bird flu, or H5N1, outbreak.
Poultry farmers and the USDA have had to deal with the virus in domestic flocks for years, but it only began infecting dairy herds about a year ago.
The spillover to another part of American agriculture and the raise in farmers catching the virus.
“There is a lot I have to learn. And if confirmed, as I mentioned in my opening statement, this will be a top priority,” Rollins said, referencing her previous comments about getting an “animal disease outbreak out of animal disease.”
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who had asked Rollins about her plan for containing the spread of bird flu, then questioned her about a up-to-date requirement that prevents some public health officials from outside communications.
“I will note that just yesterday the administration announced that it would stop external public health communications from the CDC on these animal diseases (and) animal diseases,” Klobuchar said. “These crucial announcements have helped keep producers up to date with the latest information on disease spread and worker health. And while I know this wasn’t under the USDA, I just urge you to talk to them about it. We are worried. “
Impact of mass deportations on AG
Rollins was pressed during the hearing about how the innovative deportations could affect the agriculture industry and food supplies across the country. Senators also questioned how she planned to maintain the pipeline that moves food from farms to people’s tables if it collapses amid mass deportations.
“President Trump ran and was elected overwhelmingly on the priority of border security and mass displacement,” Rollins said. “He and his team understand that he currently has the plans in place to begin this process. Of course, first with those who were here after this and who committed crimes. “
Rollins said she plans to work with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer, if confirmed, on issues related to agricultural workers.
Rollins stated that she wanted to make changes to the H2A visa for transient agricultural workersalthough they didn’t detail what changes might include.
California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff asked Rollins whether a potential sudden decline in farm workers due to mass displacement could lead to higher food prices, “contrary to what the president said he wanted.
Rollins said while that was a hypothetical, it was one that “we need to think through.”
“And I think it’s a very fair point,” Rollins said. “The President has made food inflation and the cost of food one of his top priorities. I worked alongside him. I have been part of his team for many years. I believe in his vision and commitment to America and his promises. In doing so, I believe we can find in our toolkit what we need to do to solve any hypothetical problems that emerge as real in the coming months and years. “
Rollins was the director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration before becoming president and chief executive officer of the think tank First Policy Institute.
Trump announced Rollins as his pick for agriculture secretary In November, she wrote that she “has the experience of a practitioner as well as deep policy credentials in both nonprofit and government leadership at the state and national levels.”
Rural development
During the hearing, Rollins also addressed the needs of rural communities, including housing support, child care and food assistance, during a detailed exchange with Minnesota Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
“I think sometimes people forget that the rural development side of the USDA is really important,” Smith said. “And I’ll be candid, I’m afraid that the work being done there – those efforts are not well understood – could become a target for budget cuts.
“I also know that American farmers and ranchers really trust the USDA on these issues. They don’t want these programs to be pushed out to other agencies, where we all fear they would just get less attention. “
Rollins said if confirmed, she would look forward to “putting forward a vision and building a program to revitalize, restore and bring back rural America.”
Smith also asked about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, saying nutrition programs, many of which are administered by USDA, are “essential to healthy Americans.”
“In Minnesota, rural communities have the highest levels of food insecurity in the entire state,” Smith said. “And in this country, 9 out of 10 (counties) with the highest food insecurity rates are rural.”
Rollins testified that she believed in the work requirements, although she acknowledged that she did not have extensive knowledge of the snap.
“I don’t fully understand, but plan to get more into the weeds if it’s confirmed,” Rollins said. “And to work with you to ensure that your concerns are part of that educational process for me.”
Smith took the opportunity to note that SNAP has work requirements, but there are exceptions if people are “caring for a child or an incompetent person” or whether “they are participating in an alcohol or drug treatment program” or whether “or whether they are already working under.” some other programs.
Last updated 6:23 p.m., January 23, 2025
