The Senate has confirmed Glen Smith to serve on the Farm Credit Administration board, but two other Trump nominees for agricultural posts are being blocked — Bill Northey for agriculture undersecretary and Gregg Doud for chief agriculture negotiator in the U.S. trade representative’s office. The leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee said Smith, a farmer and agribusinessman, “has the skill set and background needed to serve rural America in this role.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has blocked action on Northey until he gets a White House meeting on biofuels policy. The meeting reportedly is set for Thursday. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters that Cruz “is mad at Iowa,” the No. 1 ethanol state, though he did not comment on whether the nomination would move forward. Still, considering that the EPA announced the 2018 biofuels targets last week, Grassley said, “It seems to me that he doesn’t have much leverage until next year.”
In a radio commentary, former agriculture secretary Jack Block said Doud’s nomination was being held up by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking a very long time to fill some of our most important management positions,” said Block. Four of the USDA’s seven undersecretary positions are vacant, as are three assistant secretary slots. “For Republican senators to block Secretary Perdue’s choices for these very important jobs is terrible.”