Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), has been appointed as the next Secretary of Agriculture by President-elect Donald Trump. Announcing the decision Trump praised Rollins for her “unwavering commitment to American farmers, the protection of U.S. food self-sufficiency and the revitalization of agriculture-dependent small towns.”

Rollins, a native of Glen Rose, Texas leads AFPI, a think tank founded by former Trump administration officials to advance conservative policies. Under her leadership, AFPI has championed issues like limiting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, particularly by Chinese entities—a stance gaining bipartisan support in Congress.

She will take over a department with more than 100,000 people and more than 3,000 county offices. Her area of leadership would include farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.Besides leading USDA, she will lead the Trump administration’s efforts to advise the next Congress on the Farm Bill.

Career and leadership experience

Rollins has a storied career advocating for conservative policy initiatives. From 2003 to 2018, she served as President and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), transforming it into a nationally recognized think tank. During Trump’s first term, Rollins was Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives, roles in which she shaped landmark domestic policies across various sectors.

Her extensive network within Trump’s inner circle, including ties to key figures like Jared Kushner, may prove advantageous as she tackles USDA priorities.

Before her time in Washington, Rollins, served as an aide to then-Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry. She was also CEO and president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think-tank in the Lone Star State.

Education and personal background

Rollins holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University, where she made history as the first female student body president, graduating cum laude in 1994. She later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law. Her agricultural roots run deep, having grown up on a farm in Texas and serving as a Texas State FFA officer. She and her husband live in Fort Worth, Texas area and are parents to four children, who are involved in showing cattle.

Following the announcement, Rollins expressed her gratitude on X (formerly Twitter):
“It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX—truly the American Dream at its greatest.”

Priorities as Secretary of Agriculture

Rollins has pledged to champion American farmers, emphasizing the importance of food self-sufficiency and revitalizing small towns reliant on agriculture. She faces the challenge of navigating Trump’s proposed tariffs, balancing domestic production incentives with maintaining critical export markets for U.S. agriculture.

With her background and connection to rural America, Rollins is uniquely positioned to address rural economic development, food assistance programs and related initiatives.

Her deep understanding of agricultural policies, trade issues and rural development will be critical to steering the USDA’s mission under the Trump administration.