The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has been watching closely as President Trump’s cabinet nominees get voted out of committee and onto the Senate floor for confirmation. RJ Karney is NASDA’s Senior Director of Public Policy and says they fully support Brooke Rollins for Secretary of Agriculture.

“I would say, from our perspective, we want to see her get into her position, have that leadership position secured at the US Department of Agriculture, choose as a critical voice, not only for the White House to hear, but also for farmers, for ranchers, those that are being impacted by high path, avian influenza and other natural disasters, and how that economic package will be delivered that just got signed into law earlier in December of 2024.”

Support, however, for Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr, is tempered.

“We want to get in to speak with him. “Make America Healthy Again” is a mantra that it’s hard to see where someone could disagree with, trying to get Americans to be more healthy. We do want to ensure that we’re looking at science and basing decisions on the science that is out there, and it’s established science that we will look forward to working with him his team, as he comes forward and potentially to lead HHS.”

Karney encourages farmers to also engage with RFK to make their side heard.

“It’s important for farmers from an interest to share their story, for them to be out there and be talking about the impact that decisions in Washington have on them personally within the farming operation.”