Miller, Tom, and McKinney Mentioned for Trump USDA Posts

Texas agriculture commissioner Sid Miller, former ambassador Kip Tom, and Ted McKinney, a onetime USDA undersecretary, were among a handful of men viewed as potential nominees to run the Department of Agriculture when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Incoming presidents typically try to announce their cabinet nominees before the year-end holidays, although Trump did not tab Sonny Perdue to lead the USDA until two days before his inauguration.

Miller, a brash conservative, was mentioned for the USDA after Trump won his first term in 2016. Tom, a wealthy Indiana farmer, was U.S. ambassador to the UN agencies for food and agriculture in Rome during Trump’s first term and was co-chair of Farmers and Ranchers for Trump this year. McKinney was Agriculture undersecretary for trade during the first Trump administration and is now chief executive of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Also mentioned was North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who ran briefly for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump before campaigning for him. His term expires in December.

Predicting the USDA nominee is difficult because presidents give attention first to secretaries of the Treasury, State, Defense, and Justice departments, the posts with the weightiest portfolios. After that, they try to balance the rest of their cabinet appointments to honor campaign promises or to reward loyal groups of supporters. Sometimes a slot goes to a candidate who lost a tough race, and there can be an appreciation of executive experience. Every agriculture secretary since Mike Johanns in 2005 was a former governor.