Brooke Rollins, the newly sworn-in secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), outlined her vision on Friday for reforming the agency’s 16 nutrition programs, emphasizing accountability, efficiency, and innovation, in a letter to state, tribal, territorial, and local government partners.
In the letter—sent on her first full day in her new role as secretary—she detailed her commitment to modernizing these programs while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.
She said she expected that USDA employees would fully cooperate with DOGE’s efforts to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
She outlined a series of priorities, including efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs, clarify statutory and regulatory requirements, and improve customer service for program beneficiaries.
Rollins also highlighted her goal of associating SNAP benefits with clear work expectations for those who are able, creating new opportunities to connect American farmers with nutrition assistance programs, and ensuring that federal dietary policy aligns with scientific evidence rather than political influence.
“We have a historic opportunity to improve nutrition programs to better serve individuals who need additional support,” Rollins added in the latter. “Our shared goal should be to lift millions of Americans out of dependency and into hopeful futures and unimagined possibilities.”
During her speech at the USDA, Rollins said the agency’s core mission is to support American farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. She noted that the challenges facing American agriculture today—including market instability, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles—require urgent and strategic solutions.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the nation’s 33rd secretary of agriculture and a privilege beyond description to have the trust of President Donald J. Trump,” Rollins said.
She also addressed the recent involvement of DOGE in USDA operations, confirming that the advisory body’s representatives had been on-site for weeks.
“We are welcoming the efforts because we know that that work will make us better here at USDA,” she said. “It will make us stronger, it will make us faster, and it will make us more efficient.”
She added she looked forward to personally working with DOGE and USDA staff “in the days and the weeks to come … for a better and stronger USDA.”
In addition to her focus on nutrition program reform, Rollins announced that she would end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the department, calling them divisive and unnecessary. She also pledged to return all USDA personnel to in-office work, stating that the agency should follow the example of American farmers and ranchers who do not work remotely.
Her appointment comes at a critical time for the USDA, which is facing significant challenges, including negotiating the next Farm Bill and addressing concerns over rising food prices and supply chain disruptions.
Rollins expressed confidence that her leadership would bring about meaningful change.
“We will work tirelessly to position American agriculture to meet the challenges of the present and continue to lead into the future,” she said. “Together, we are going to bring greater prosperity, greater opportunity, and greater stability to rural communities across this great country.”
