Senate Agriculture Committee to Consider USDA Nominees Amid Government Shutdown
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will move forward this week with a key confirmation hearing to review three nominees for leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“The US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman John Boozman, Arkansas, and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota, have announced that the committee will hold a hearing to consider US Department of Agriculture nominees this week amid the government shutdown.”
The hearing will evaluate three nominees: “Dr. Mindy Brashears to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Stella Yvette Herrell to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and John Walk to be Inspector General, Department of Agriculture.”
Each nominee brings significant experience to the table. “Dr. Mindy Brashears served in this same position during President Trump’s first term and is a professor of food safety and public health and director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University.” Her return to the USDA would mark a continuation of her focus on advancing food safety standards and strengthening public health protections across the food supply chain.
“Herrell previously served as a US Representative from New Mexico’s second district in the 117th congress and prior to that as a member of the New Mexico State House of Representatives for 8 years.” Her background in both state and federal policymaking gives her deep insight into rural and agricultural priorities.
Finally, “Walk has been serving the US Department of Agriculture as the acting deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.” His experience in federal food and nutrition programs is expected to be a major asset in his consideration for the Inspector General position.
“The confirmation hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 29th at 3pm Eastern.”
This hearing represents a critical step toward restoring full leadership across the USDA, ensuring that key programs related to food safety, nutrition, and consumer services continue to operate effectively even during the shutdown.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.