President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Stephen Vaden as deputy secretary of USDA for his upcoming administration. Vaden, who served as general counsel for USDA during Trump’s first term, brings extensive legal expertise and a personal connection to farming.
Trump comments: “I am pleased to nominate Stephen Alexander Vaden to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, where he will work with our Great United States Secretary of Agriculture Nominee, Brooke Rollins,” Trump said in his announcement. “In my First Term, Stephen was the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, and a Member of the Board of the Commodity Credit Corporation, where he won two cases before the United States Supreme Court, relocated and reorganized the Agencies that comprise the Department to better serve Rural America, and engaged in substantial regulatory reform. Stephen joined the USDA on Day One of my First Term, and left in December 2020 after I nominated him, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him, to continue to serve the American People as an Article III Judge on the Court of International Trade. Judge Stephen Vaden resides in Union City, Tennessee, where he helps manage his family farm. Congratulations Stephen!”
Vaden’s accomplishments include winning Supreme Court cases, leading USDA reforms, and implementing key policies such as the 2018 Farm Bill and hemp legalization. His appointment comes alongside Brooke Rollins as USDA secretary.
Vaden holds a law degree from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Prior to his government service, Vaden worked at prominent Washington law firms, including Jones Day and Patton Boggs.
He currently serves as a judge on the United States Court of International Trade, a position he has held since December 2020.
During his tenure as USDA’s general counsel, Vaden achieved several notable successes: (1) Won two cases before the United States Supreme Court; (2) Oversaw the relocation and reorganization of USDA agencies to better serve rural America; (3) Engaged in substantial regulatory reform; (4) Implemented the 2018 Farm Bill; and (5) Managed rules for the legalization of industrial hemp and regulation of bioengineered crops.
Vaden maintains strong ties to agriculture, living in Union City, Tennessee, where he helps manage his family farm. This personal connection to farming likely provides him with valuable insights into the challenges and needs of rural America.
Rollins, who previously served as a White House adviser and currently leads the America First Policy Institute, brings her own set of qualifications to USDA secretary role, including a law degree and a background in agricultural development from Texas A&M University.
This leadership team at USDA will be responsible for overseeing a wide range of policies, regulations, and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality, and nutrition. Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, which will be controlled by Republicans. Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025.
Bottom line: As the Trump administration prepares to return to the White House, these appointments signal a continuation of its previous agricultural policies and priorities, with experienced individuals who have both legal expertise and connections to the farming community.