Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced the final senior USDA leadership appointments. Iowan Glen Smith, who has served on the Farm Credit Administration board, has been nominated to be the undersecretary of Rural Development. Dr. Mindy Brashears has been named the undersecretary for food safety, a role she had during the first Trump administration. The deputy undersecretary for rural development will be Neal Robbins, who previously worked in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Former New Mexico Congresswoman Yvette Herrell is the pick as assistant secretary of the Office of Congressional Relations. Anthony Priest, who has worked in real estate, product development and education, was appointed chief of staff for the Rural Housing Service. Michael Pape worked for Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield and will now serve as the chief of staff for the USDA Rural Utilities Service. Anna Pilato is the new chief of staff for the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. Pilato previously served during the first Trump term and the George W. Bush administration. Former Michigan State Rural Development Director Jason Allen was appointed senior advisor for the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.
