Key Nominations Make Progress

President Biden announced his nominee for Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA, Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban. Dr. Esteban currently serves as Chief Scientist for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Keeping with the progress of nominations, on November 16, by a vote of 76-19, the Senate confirmed Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. The next day, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Chavonda Jacobs-Young, nominee for Under Secretary of Research, Education, and Economics. ASTA signed on to an industry-led letter expressing  support for Dr. Jacobs-Young. President Biden has not yet announced undersecretary nominees for public nutrition and international trade.