President Donald Trump has
nominated just seven of the 13 Agriculture Department positions that require
Senate confirmation. The Senate has confirmed just four nominations, being
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Deputy Secretary Steve Censky and
Undersecretaries Ted McKinney and Greg Ibach (eye-bah). The undersecretary
nomination of Bill Northey remains on hold by Senator Ted Cruz, and one Trump
nomination, Sam Clovis, withdrew from the process. The Partnership for Public
Service said that Trump has fallen behind his predecessors in filling top
government posts. As of January 13th, less than 40 percent of the 626
Senate-confirmed appointments still had no nominee. Trump has nominated Stephen
Vaden as general counsel for USDA and announced intent to nominate Ken Barbic
as assistant secretary for congressional relations. Open nominated positions
remaining at USDA oversee administration, civil rights, nutrition, food safety,
natural resources, research and the chief financial officer post remains
vacant, according to the Hagstrom Report.
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