Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development

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United States
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development
Seal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.svg
Seal of the Department of Agriculture
Website usda.gov

The under secretary for rural development (USDA(RD)) is a high-ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture and principal advisor to the secretary of agriculture responsible for oversight of the department's rural development programs and policies.

Contents

The under secretary is appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate to serve at the pleasure of the president. The most recent under secretary was Basil Gooden, who was nominated in September 2023, assumed office on March 4, 2024, and served until January 20, 2025.

Overview

The under secretary for rural development, as head of the rural development mission area, provides assistance to rural communities in the United States. In particular, this assistance comes in three areas: business, utilities, and housing. The under secretary for rural development oversees loans, grants, and technical assistance to rural residents, communities, and businesses.

With the rank of under secretary, the USDA(RD) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule. [1]

Reporting officials

Officials reporting to the under secretary of agriculture for rural development include:

Officeholders

Under Secretary Torres-Small was confirmed by voice vote on October 7, 2021. [2] The previous under secretary was Lisa Mensah, who was appointed by President Barack Obama on May 8, 2014, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 20, 2014.

Between the two, Anne Hazlett served as Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, from June 12, 2017, [3] to February 7, 2019, when Hazlett joined the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. [4]

  Denotes an Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development
No.PortraitNameTook officeLeft office President
serving under
1 Jill Long.jpg Jill L. Long 19952001 Bill Clinton
2 Thomas Dorr.jpg Thomas C. Dorr 20022008 George W. Bush
3 Dallas P Tonsager.jpg Dallas P. Tonsager May 12, 2009 [5] 2013 Barack Obama
4 Lisa Mensah 2016 (cropped).jpg Lisa Mensah November 20, 2014January 2017
5 Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary of Agriculture.jpg Xochitl Torres Small October 13, 2021July 17, 2023 Joe Biden
6 Official portrait of Basil Gooden, Under Secretary for Rural Development.jpg Basil Gooden March 4, 2024January 20, 2025

References

  1. ↑ "5 U.S. Code § 5314 - Positions at level III".
  2. ↑ "PN745 — Xochitl Torres Small — Department of Agriculture". Congress.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Secretary Perdue Names Anne Hazlett to Lead Rural Development at USDA".
  4. ↑ "Hazlett Named Senior Adviser at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy".
  5. ↑ Carey, Maeve P.; Greene, Michael W. (2014). "Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 111th Congress, 2009-2010 (R43638)". Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 11 March 2023.


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