Despite having the support of the Senate Agriculture Committee, two Biden nominees to the Agriculture Department must wait until mid-November, at the earliest, for a Senate vote.
Alexis Taylor, nominated to be undersecretary for trade, and Jose Esteban, nominated to be undersecretary for food safety, are among the thee final Biden nominees to sub-cabinet posts at the USDA. A Senate Agriculture Committee aide said leaders hoped to win clearance for a floor vote on them when the Senate returns to work on Nov 14.
There are eight undersecretary positions at USDA. Five have been filled. The only nominee awaiting a confirmation hearing is Stacy Dean, nominated on May 13. Dean has served as deputy undersecretary for nutrition since the early days of the administration.
Meanwhile, senators confirmed Vincent Logan to the board of the Farm Credit Administration by voice vote before adjourning last week until after the mid-term elections.
Logan, member of the Osage Nation with a career in investment management, will be the first Native American to serve on the FCA board.