The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments.
Thomas James Vilsack is an American politician serving as the 32nd United States secretary of agriculture in the Biden administration. He previously served in the role from 2009 to 2017 during the Obama administration. A member of the Democratic Party,he served as the 40th governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007. During his tenure,Iowa experienced a peak in new CAFO construction.
The Under Secretary for Food,Nutrition,and Consumer Services is a position created within the United States Department of Agriculture in 1993,and is responsible for administrating the department's fifteen nutrition and food security programs and for promoting the dietary guidelines. <7 CFR §2.19>The food assistance programs have a combined budget of $170.5 billion and include the Food Stamp Program,the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,Infants and Children,the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs,and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In addition,the Undersecretary oversees the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,which leads the development of dietary guidelines and which promotes the guidelines through the Food Guide Pyramid (MyPyramid.gov).
The United States deputy secretary of agriculture is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture,appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The deputy secretary becomes acting secretary of agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation,death,or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The deputy secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the secretary of agriculture. The deputy secretary of agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule.
Barack Obama assumed office as President of the United States on January 20,2009,and his term ended on January 20,2017. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia that is responsible for promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's agricultural sector. It also provides environmental protection services and consumer protection programs.
Polly Ellen Trottenberg is an American government official who is serving as Deputy Secretary of Transportation under Pete Buttigieg since April 14,2021. She served as the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from June 2023 to October 2023. She previously served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation from 2014 to 2020.
Xochitl Liana Torres Small is an American attorney and politician who is the 15th and current United States deputy secretary of agriculture,acting as "chief operating officer" for the department. She was nominated by President Joe Biden in February 2023,and was confirmed by the senate on July 11.
Joe Biden assumed office as President of the United States on January 20,2021. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.
Robert Farrell Bonnie is the current Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation,having been confirmed by the Senate on November 16,2021,by a vote of 76-19. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Senior Advisor,Climate,in the Office of the Secretary in the United States Department of Agriculture. He was appointed on Jan. 20,2021.
Cynthia Minette Marten is an American educator and government official who has served as the 11th United States deputy secretary of education since May 18,2021. Marten previously served as the superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District from 2013 until her confirmation as deputy secretary in May 2021.
M. Camille Calimlim Touton is a Filipino-American water policy advisor who serves as the commissioner of the United States Bureau of Reclamation in the Biden administration.
Homer Lee Wilkes is an American conservationist and government official from Mississippi. In 2021,Wilkes was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as under secretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment.
For the American singer-songwriter,author,and TV host,see Stacy Dean Campbell.
Alexis Taylor is an American agricultural policy advisor who is serving as under secretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs since December 2022. She formerly served as director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture from 2017 to 2022.
