Luke Lindberg of South Dakota has been confirmed as the USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Lindberg’s nomination by a 77-18 vote Saturday night. During his confirmation hearing earlier this spring, Lindberg told the Senate Ag Committee that he supports free trade agreements that could help reverse the growing deficit.
“America’s agricultural trade deficit, which is the worst in American history, is driven by a number of factors, but principally by the lack of an America-first trade agenda that prioritizes market access for our farmers and ranchers,” Lindberg said. “For too long, we’ve let other countries access our market and not negotiated reciprocal access to theirs.”
Lindberg previously served as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States during President Trump’s first term. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of South Dakota Trade, a public–private partnership focused on expanding international market access for regional exporters.
In a statement, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said she was pleased to have Lindberg join USDA and has “full faith that his drive and deep experience will ensure we not only defend our producers, but also open new doors to global trade.”
The U.S. Meat Export Federation applauded the Senate vote and said Lindberg, “has a proven track record as a champion for U.S. agriculture.”
Several other USDA nominees still await a floor vote in the Senate including Richard Fordyce as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation; Michael Boren as Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; Dudley Hoskins as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; and Scott Hutchins as Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
