WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture said during his confirmation hearing Thursday that he has “a lot to learn” about highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, a virus wreaking havoc on the nation’s poultry industry and dairy farms.
The epidemic has affected over 136 million poultry flocks and almost 1,000 dairy herds, infected 67 people, and one person has died so far. Public health experts continue to assess the risk of infection to the general public 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 interrogation showed that Brooke Rollins likely has the support to secure Senate confirmation, although members of both political parties have expressed concerns about the decline of family farms, the hollowing out of rural America, the speed at which the USDA is providing disaster aid to farmers and the future of programs nutritional.
Customs and trade
Rollins also received numerous questions from both Democrats and Republicans about Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imports, which will likely lead to retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports and negative consequences for farmers and food prices.
“When it comes to the president’s tariff program, I think it will come as no surprise to anyone sitting in this room that he believes that this is a very vital tool in his toolbox to continue or restore America’s position as a leader in the world and to ensure that that they have a booming economy,” Rollins said. “But like he and we did during the first administration, he, too, understands the potential devastating impact on our farmers and our ranchers.”
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed concerns about what happened during the first Trump administration, after he imposed tariffs on allied countries and China. She urged Rollins to make sure Trump understands this will likely happen again if he imposes high tariffs on other countries.
“President Trump announced a 25% tariff on Chinese products – batteries, TVs, medical equipment,” Slotkin said. “China retaliated and imposed 25% tariffs on soy, fruit, pork and some other products. Then we got into a trade war; We started adding more things to the list, they already started adding more things to the list. It went on and on and back and forth.
“Suddenly, our farmers all over the country are screaming bloody murder because… no one wanted to buy our goods because there was a 25% tariff. We felt it very severely.”
She said the previous Trump administration then pulled billions from the Commodity Credit Corporation to aid farmers who suffered from retaliatory tariffs.
“This emergency fund is the same fund that helps us with things like bird flu that we’re seeing across the country right now,” Slotkin said.
Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell expressed hope that the country will not go down the same path it has gone before when it comes to tariffs and trade wars.
“I think for many Americans, trade has kind of become a word for exporting jobs,” McConnell said. “In Kentucky, we associate trade with exporting products and it is an extremely important part of our business.”
Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet told Rollins that he “sympathizes with some of the trade policies that President Trump is trying to advocate for.”
“But agriculture is already in a difficult situation… and we don’t want it to be in an even more difficult situation as a result of what’s happening here,” Bennet said.
He then asked Rollins whether she believed it would be her responsibility as agriculture secretary to “go to the Oval Office and say, ‘You haven’t considered the unintended consequences to American agriculture if you continue with this trade policy.’ “”
Rollins said her role, if confirmed, will be to “defend, honor and elevate our entire agricultural community in the Oval Office, around the table, in the interagency process.” And ensure that every decision we make over the next four years keeps this view in mind when making those decisions.
Bird flu
Rollins wasn’t sure if she was telling senators how she should deal with the ongoing epidemic of bird flu, or H5N1.
Poultry farmers and the USDA have had to deal with the virus in domestic flocks for years, but dairy herds only started infecting dairy herds about a year ago.
The spread of the virus to another part of U.S. agriculture and the enhance in the number of farmers infected with the virus led to a federal government response involving multiple agencies, including the Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the USDA. .
“I have a lot to learn about this. And if confirmed, that will be, as I mentioned in my opening statement, one of the top priorities,” Rollins said, referring to her previous comments about “getting animal disease outbreaks under control.”
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who asked Rollins what her plan was to limit the spread of bird flu, then asked her about a modern requirement that prevents some public health officials from communicating externally.
“I remember just yesterday the administration announced that it was suspending CDC external public health communications about avian influenza (and) animal diseases,” Klobuchar said. “These important announcements helped manufacturers stay up to date with the latest information on the spread of disease and worker health. And while I know this wasn’t covered by the USDA, I urge you to talk to them about it. We are concerned.”
The impact of mass deportations on agriculture
During the hearing, Rollins was pressed on how widespread deportations could affect the agriculture industry and food supply across the country. Senators also asked how he planned to prevent the pipeline that transports food from farms to tables from collapsing in the event of mass deportations.
“President Trump ran and was elected overwhelmingly on a priority basis of border security and mass deportations,” Rollins said. “I assume he and his team are currently developing plans to begin this process. Of course, first with those who have already committed crimes here.”
Rollins said she plans to work with Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, if confirmed, on agricultural workforce issues.
Rollins testified that she wanted to make changes in H2A visa for momentary agricultural workersalthough she did not detail what these changes might involve.
California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff asked Rollins whether a potential sudden decline in farm workers due to mass deportations could lead to higher food prices “in sharp contrast to what the president has promised.”
Rollins said that while it’s hypothetical, “we have to think about it.”
“And I think that’s a very good point,” Rollins said. “The president has made food inflation and its costs one of his top priorities. I worked together with him. I have been part of his team for many years. I believe in his vision, his commitment to America and the promises he made. By doing this, I believe we will be able to find in our toolbox what we need to do to solve any hypothetical problems that turn out to be real in the months and years ahead.”
Rollins served as director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration and later became president and CEO of the think tank America First Policy Institute.
Trump announced Rollins as his choice for Secretary of Agriculture in November, writing that he “possesses practical experience along with deep political credentials in leadership positions in both nonprofit organizations and government at the state and national levels.”
Rural development
During the hearing, Rollins also addressed the needs of rural communities, including housing, child care and food assistance, during a detailed exchange with Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.
“Sometimes I think people forget that the USDA rural development page is really important,” Smith said. “And I’ll be forthright, I’m concerned that the work that’s been done there – those efforts that are not well understood – could become the target of 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 given to other agencies where we all fear they will simply pay less attention to them.”
Rollins said that if confirmed, she would be excited to “put forward a vision and build an agenda for the recovery, restoration and restoration of rural America.”
Smith also asked about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, saying that nutrition programs, many of which are administered by the USDA, are “fundamental to healthy Americans.”
“In Minnesota, rural communities have the highest food insecurity in the state,” Smith said. “And in this country, 9 out of 10 (counties) with the highest rates of food insecurity are rural.”
Rollins testified that she does believe in work requirements, although she admitted that she does not have extensive knowledge of SNAP.
“I don’t fully understand, but I plan to look into this further if it is confirmed,” Rollins said. “And I am working with all of you to make sure that your concerns become part of the educational process for me.”
Smith took the opportunity to note that SNAP does have work requirements, but there are exceptions if a person is “caring for a child or incapacitated person” or “participating in an alcohol or drug treatment program” or if they are “already working under other programs.” .
Last updated at 18:23, January 23, 2025
