The Agriculture Department has appointed Doug Hoelscher and Tate Bennett of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute – a think tank founded by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins – to roles at USDA, in the most recent announcement of political appointees. 

In a Tuesday news release, Rollins said the appointments come as “USDA is building a powerhouse team of presidential appointees.” 

“With strong experience in agriculture, public service and national security, this team will protect family farms, expand opportunities, and proudly implement America First policies,” Rollins said. “I look forward to working together to deliver real results for the American people, particularly the farmers, ranchers and producers who feed and fuel our nation.” 

Hoelscher, chief operating officer and chair of the America First Transition Project at AFPI, was named minister-counselor at the International Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome, Italy. Raised on an Iowa corn, soybean and hog farm in Iowa, Hoelscher was director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs during the first Trump administration. 

Hoelscher was rumored to be named chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in April, but the administration ultimately tapped Julie Callahan for the position in July. 

Also hailing from AFPI, Tate Bennett was named principal deputy chief of staff. She was most recently director of rural policy with a key role guiding the think tank's “Farmers First Agenda” launched in April.

Bennett held numerous roles in the first Trump administration, including special assistant to the president for agriculture, trade, and food assistance at the White House National Economic Council and agriculture adviser to the administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Rollins founded AFPI in 2021 to advance Trump’s agenda. Dozens of alumni from the think tank have transitioned into roles in the second Trump administration, including multiple cabinet-level officials: Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner. 

Additional USDA appointees include Hailey Ghee as deputy chief of staff for operations. She recently worked at the Small Business Administration as deputy chief of staff for implementation. During the first Trump administration, Ghee was executive assistant and policy coordinator to then-Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue for three years. 

Mireya Brogan was named chief of staff for the Risk Management Agency. She has a background in defense and international aid, including roles at MITRE focused on supporting research and development supply chain risk for the Department of Defense, as well as serving as a consultant at Catholic Relief Services. 

Also of note, USDA chief of staff for food safety Trey Forsyth left the department this month to join the National Milk Producers Federation as vice president of government and regulatory affairs. 

The Resource Institute’s Kennon White was named south region assistant chief for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Under his direction, the Resource Institute advanced large-scale stream restoration efforts designed to improve water quality and benefit American farmers and producers across the Southeast. 

Additional state appointments include: 

  • Troy Romero as Louisiana State Director for Rural Development 

  • Chris Lyons as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island State Director for Rural Development

  • Dominic Restuccia as Michigan State Director for Rural Development

  • Travis Day as New Mexico State Director for Rural Development

  • Robert Sullivan as Connecticut State Farm Service Agency Executive Director 

  • Cory Atkins as Delaware State Farm Service Agency Executive Director 

  • Starlyn Perdue as Iowa State Farm Service Agency Executive Director 

  • Philip Cowee as Nevada State Farm Service Agency Executive Director

  • Wilmer Stoneman III as Virginia State Farm Service Agency Executive Director 

  • Patrick Bell as Washington State Farm Service Agency Executive Director 

  • Kennon White as South Region Assistant Chief for Natural Resources Conservation Service

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