President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, continued meetings with senators Wednesday as her nomination faces smoother sailing than most other choices for Cabinet posts.
With seven sit-downs scheduled Wednesday on both sides the aisle, Rollins was on track to have visited with 18 senators so far, plus Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). She’s been in touch with more than 20 lawmakers, according to the Trump transition team.
Rollins’ background isn’t necessarily steeped in agriculture. She worked in domestic policy development during the first Trump administration and led conservative think tanks, though she grew up in a ranching town in rural Texas and studied agricultural development at Texas A&M University. Republican senators said those roots — plus her close relationship with Trump — argue for her confirmation.
“I think Ms. Rollins will be extremely good in that capacity,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who told POLITICO’s E&E News that she specifically brought up Nebraska and Western water issues with Rollins in their recent meeting.
