Unclear How Rollins Would Take on Challenges Facing U.S. Food and Agriculture

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins, former White House policy advisor and co-founder and chief executive officer of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the agency responsible for overseeing our nation's food and farm system, rural development and nutrition programs.

Below is a statement by Karen Perry Stillerman, deputy director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:

"Outside of a misdirected interest in Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland, Brooke Rollins appears to have no agricultural policy track record to comment on. Rollins' AFPI, described as the second Trump administration in waiting, has so little interest in farm policy that there are no agriculture experts listed on its website.

"This appears to be another example of President-elect Trump doling out cabinet appointments for loyalty rather than expertise. Our nation's farmers, food workers, consumers and the public servants at the USDA deserve a secretary who knows and cares about the challenges they face."