Sam Clovis has a broad resume and “there are likely senior jobs in the Administration that he would have been qualified to hold, but the job of USDA chief scientist is not one of them,” said Michael Jacobson, president of the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest. “He should not have been nominated, and the law requires that he not be confirmed.”
Jacobson’s statement was the first from a consumer group against Clovis, who was formally nominated this week by the White House for agriculture undersecretary for research, a post that carries the duties of USDA chief scientist. Clovis, co-chair of the Trump presidential campaign and Trump’s chief political operative at the USDA, has a doctorate in public administration but no apparent experience in the hard sciences. A letter signed by 22 leading farm groups says USDA scientists “do not need a peer. They need someone to champion their work before the administration, the Congress, and all consumers around the world.”
During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on Tuesday, committee leaders expressed concern about statements by Clovis in 2013 and 2014 against the federal crop insurance program. Chairman Pat Roberts, a leading advocate of crop insurance, said Clovis needed to explain his views. Asked if Roberts supports the nomination and about the next steps in the nomination process, a spokeswoman said, “Next steps include reviewing the nominee’s paperwork, meeting with him, and scheduling a hearing. Chairman Roberts looks forward to receiving Mr. Clovis’ paperwork and meeting with the nominee.”