Senate Finance Committee to Vote on USTR Ag Nominee

On September 7, the Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote to send the nomination of USDA adviser Doug McKalip for chief agricultural trade negotiator to the full Senate for confirmation.

McKalip first joined USDA in 1994 and is a senior adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He was a senior policy adviser for rural affairs at the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Obama administration. McKalip has also been a senior adviser at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and legislative and public affairs director for Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In a statement at the time of nomination, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Having served as a key agriculture policy official for nearly three decades, he has worked on every aspect of farming from soil conservation, and the supply chain to dealing with sensitive trade and national security matters. Through his service, he has represented American farmers around the world and advocated for U.S. agricultural products and technology.”