### Trump Selects Brooke Rollins as Agriculture Secretary Amid Internal Discord

In a surprising move, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Brooke Rollins as his Agriculture secretary, ending weeks of speculation and internal debate over the prominent role, according to sources familiar with the transition discussions. Rollins, who previously directed the Office of American Innovation and served as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term, has emerged as a pivotal figure through her leadership at the America First Policy Institute think tank.

Rollins, born and raised on a farm and holding a degree in agricultural development, was not a frontrunner on Trump's shortlist for the USDA chief role, given her relatively limited experience in agriculture policy. The selection, initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, concludes a period of intense negotiations involving Trump's advisers, family members, and influential agricultural groups.

As one of the last major Cabinet positions to be filled by Trump, the role of USDA chief attracted significant interest. Rollins' name had also come up in discussions for the position of Trump's chief of staff, a role ultimately given to Susie Wiles. The Agriculture Department, with an annual budget exceeding $430 billion and a workforce of 100,000, is integral to managing the United States’ $1.5 trillion food and agriculture industry.

Speculation about the USDA appointment reached a fever pitch, with reports suggesting that Trump had considered former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler for the role. However, discussions between Trump and Rollins earlier in the week solidified her selection, according to an informed source. Rollins' Texas roots have been well-received by Southern agricultural groups, and despite initial surprise from GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill, her Senate confirmation is anticipated to proceed smoothly.

Should she be confirmed, Rollins will oversee the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), providing food aid to over 40 million low-income Americans. This comes at a time when Republicans are considering significant cuts to SNAP as part of a broader 2025 reconciliation package. Additionally, Rollins will influence major agricultural policies and subsidies, areas that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is looking to overhaul.

In his announcement, Trump emphasized Rollins's role in protecting American farmers, describing them as "the backbone of our country". Rollins is also expected to navigate Trump's plans for new tariffs on China and other key agricultural trade partners—a contentious issue that has previously hurt U.S. farmers due to retaliatory tariffs.

Rollins' appointment has been cautiously welcomed by conservative agricultural groups hopeful for a USDA chief with deep ties to agriculture policies. While Rollins is seen as a loyalist to Trump’s economic agendas, her stance on traditional agricultural policy remains uncertain.

Following the announcement, Rollins expressed her commitment in a post on X, stating it would be "the honor of my life to fight for America's farmers and our Nation's agricultural communities," and rallied the farming community with a call to "MAKE AGRICULTURE GREAT AGAIN."