The senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, said in a letter to supporters that she opposes the nomination of Sam Clovis to be the USDA’s chief scientist, “and I call on President Trump to withdraw it immediately,” reported Hill Heat, which covers global warming. Stabenow is the first member of the agriculture committee to formally oppose Clovis, a co-chair of Trump’s presidential campaign and his chief political liaison at the USDA.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed an all-out fight against Clovis if the nomination reaches the Senate floor. Like other critics, Schumer says Clovis is unqualified for the post of undersecretary for research, a job that doubles as USDA chief scientist and is reserved by law for “distinguished scientists with specialized or significant experience in agricultural research, education, and economics.” An Air Force veteran and former college professor in Iowa, Clovis has a doctorate in business administration.
In the letter, reprinted by Hill Heat, Stabenow says Clovis, a climate-change skeptic, did not have the qualifications for the job and “his absurd statements on LGBTQ issues, race and President Obama totally disqualify him from consideration. As ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, I oppose his nomination and I call on President Trump to withdraw it immediately. If he does not, I will lead the opposition and promise to bring his troubling record to light.”
Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts told reporters a week ago that “Mr Clovis’ papers are not all in yet,” so action on him would be delayed. The committee scheduled a confirmation hearing for today for two other USDA nominees, Steve Censky, for deputy secretary, the No. 2 USDA job, and Ted McKinney for undersecretary for trade, a newly created post.