The White House is currently vetting possible nominees for key sub-cabinet positions at the USDA, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a teleconference on Thursday. “I suspect we will be seeing nominees soon on some of those vacancies.”
Five months after taking office, President Biden has yet to announce his selections for three undersecretary posts at the USDA — to oversee food safety, public nutrition, and international trade. Two undersecretaries, Jennifer Moffitt for marketing and Xochitl Torres Small for rural development, are in office. Torres Small, who represented New Mexico in the House, was sworn into office on Wednesday. Three other USDA nominations are pending in the Senate.
Vilsack also announced $272 million in rural water and sewer grants and loans for 114 projects affecting 270,000 people in 37 states and Puerto Rico. The grant and loan program is aimed at rural communities with fewer than 10,000 residents.