WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has confirmed several nominees for agricultural and agricultural trade roles with the administration. Notably, in a confirmation vote of 53 to 43, Dr. Mindy Brashears was confirmed as the USDA’s under secretary for food safety, and Dr. Julie Callahan gained approval to become the U.S. Trade Representative’s chief agricultural negotiator.
“The Senate confirmed a historic number of administration officials this year including 12 leaders to key roles. We are eager to work together in support of farmers and a stronger rural America,” U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry chairman, said.
Brashears held this same role during the first Trump administration, and Callahan has worked with agriculture and commodity policy with the USTR office since 2016.
These nominations and confirmations have gained approval from several of the nation’s poultry, feed, meat and agriculture associations.
“Dr. Brashears brings a wealth of food safety knowledge, a microbiological background and boots-on-the-ground experience to this position, and we applaud the Senate for her confirmation,” Harrison Kircher, National Chicken Council president, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with her and continuing to work the dedicated professionals at the Food Safety and Inspection Service, in advancing our common goal of protecting public health and keeping our food supply as safe as possible.”
“With the ongoing slate of trade negotiations and the importance of U.S. broiler exports, it is more important than ever that agriculture has a seat at the table to ensure our interests are represented,” Kircher added, speaking on Callahan’s confirmation. “Dr. Callahan is the perfect fit for this role, and we look forward to working with her.”
Also addressing poultry international trade, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council also congratulates Callahan on confirmation.
“On behalf of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, I extend our sincere congratulations to Dr. Julie Callahan on her confirmation as chief agricultural negotiator at USTR,” Greg Tyler, USAPEEC’s president and CEO, said. “Dr. Callahan brings deep expertise, a strong understanding of global agricultural markets, and a proven commitment to advancing U.S. agriculture.”
“Her leadership will be critical as the United States works to expand market access, address unfair trade barriers, and ensure science-based trade rules for agricultural products,” Tyler added. “We look forward to working closely with Dr. Callahan and the USTR team to strengthen opportunities for U.S. poultry egg exports and to support American farmers and producers competing in the global marketplace.”
Also speaking to exports, Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation president and CEO, noted that Callahan, “brings an unparalleled level of knowledge, experience and dedication to this position and USMEF congratulates Dr.
Callahan on her confirmation by the U.S. Senate. This is an especially critical time for agricultural trade, with ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and many key trading partners. USMEF thanks the U.S. Senate for its timely confirmation of a proven leader who is a tireless advocate for U.S. agriculture.”
For the nation’s feed producers, the American Feed Industry Association also notes its approval for Callahan’s confirmation.
“The AFIA extends a warm congratulations to Julie Callahan on her confirmation,” Constance Cullman, AFIA president and CEO, said. “She is a problem-solver and communicator with key relationships across the Hill, the administration and the world. Dr. Callahan will be a strong advocate for the U.S. agricultural sector, and we look forward to working with her to establish new markets for American animal food manufacturers.”
Stephen Censky, American Soybean Association CEO, adds that, “Dr. Callahan brings a deep understanding of how critical export markets are to the strength of U.S. agriculture. Soybean farmers value her extensive experience at USTR and across the federal government, and they know she will be a strong advocate for agriculture.”
These recent confirmations work to, “… strengthen U.S. transportation, trade and risk management policy at a critical time for the grain, feed, and processing sectors,” Mike Seyfert, National Grain and Feed Association president and CEO, said in a statement. “We applaud the administration’s selection of these excellent professionals and the Senate’s leadership to confirm them. We look forward to working with (them) to advance policies that support a safe, efficient, and market-driven agricultural economy.”
Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation president, noted that Callahan’s experience at, “USTR, the Foreign Agricultural Service at USDA and the at the Food and Drug Administration will serve her well as she works to improve trading relationships with international partners.”
“Trade disputes and imbalances have hit farmers hard at a time they were already pummeled by record-high expense costs and low commodity prices,” Duvall added. “We look forward to working with Dr. Callahan to enforce existing trade agreements while strengthening and building new markets to ensure farmers and ranchers can continue growing food and fiber for families around the world.”
Speaking to both the confirmations of Brashears and Callahan, Ted McKinney, National Association of State Department of Agriculture CEO, said that “Dr. Callahan and Dr. Brashears have an astute understanding of what it takes to successfully raise, grow, harvest and promote U.S. agricultural products given their deep experience with agricultural policy and regulation within the federal government.”
“This is a critical time to advance U.S. agriculture’s competitiveness, reduce barriers to trade and improve food access for Americans and beyond,” McKinney noted in his statement. “On behalf of NASDA members, we congratulate our friends on being confirmed for these essential positions and look forward to working with Dr. Callahan as we seek to open new markets for America’s farmers and ranchers and Dr. Brashears as we continue our cooperative agreement with the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service to keep U.S. produced food of the highest safety and quality.”
