Brooke Rollins
π€ PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
The American founding had four key agencies, of course, the Attorney General, Justice, State, and Defense, which was the Department of War at the time, but Defense. And that was really the beginning of our country were those four. Interior was added a couple decades later, and then agriculture.
The American founding had four key agencies, of course, the Attorney General, Justice, State, and Defense, which was the Department of War at the time, but Defense. And that was really the beginning of our country were those four. Interior was added a couple decades later, and then agriculture.
That was sort of the cadence of building a new government and creating some sort of self-governing structure that you want the power to remain with the people. But certainly, as America moved from a frontier republic into, as we know, the world's greatest economic superpowerβ certainly you needed some kind of governing structure.
That was sort of the cadence of building a new government and creating some sort of self-governing structure that you want the power to remain with the people. But certainly, as America moved from a frontier republic into, as we know, the world's greatest economic superpowerβ certainly you needed some kind of governing structure.
And so Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s believed sincerely that the majority of Americans then were rural, they were agriculture related, and that they needed representation here in Washington. So the People's Department was formed and this building was built in the early 1900s, 1920s, and here we are today. Now through the years, as you mentioned, It has grown and grown and grown.
And so Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s believed sincerely that the majority of Americans then were rural, they were agriculture related, and that they needed representation here in Washington. So the People's Department was formed and this building was built in the early 1900s, 1920s, and here we are today. Now through the years, as you mentioned, It has grown and grown and grown.
I do believe it became a bit of a catch all in some ways. You know, we run the food stamp program, the SNAP program, the Supplemental Nutrition Program. We run the forests, of course, Forest Service is under, forestry is under USDA. So that's tens of thousands of firefighters as an example. And of course, all of the farming and agriculture related
I do believe it became a bit of a catch all in some ways. You know, we run the food stamp program, the SNAP program, the Supplemental Nutrition Program. We run the forests, of course, Forest Service is under, forestry is under USDA. So that's tens of thousands of firefighters as an example. And of course, all of the farming and agriculture related
from rural development loans, to farm loans, to crop insurance, and then, of course, moving all of the economic relief, et cetera, that sometimes is often needed.
from rural development loans, to farm loans, to crop insurance, and then, of course, moving all of the economic relief, et cetera, that sometimes is often needed.
I am still getting my arms around two months in exactly everything that we're working on here, but in President Trump's greatest vision and in his bold leadership, one of my top priorities is how we realign the USDA around its original purpose which was serving the people and especially the farmers and ranchers. So really looking forward to continuing that work.
I am still getting my arms around two months in exactly everything that we're working on here, but in President Trump's greatest vision and in his bold leadership, one of my top priorities is how we realign the USDA around its original purpose which was serving the people and especially the farmers and ranchers. So really looking forward to continuing that work.
I was in the first Trump administration. I think I was the only ag major in the building. And I was doing a lot of different hats. I was working with Jared Kushner in the Office of American Innovation, and then was doing all the strategy, so kind of the big picture You know, for the president and the policy, especially on the domestic side, eventually ran the domestic policy team.
I was in the first Trump administration. I think I was the only ag major in the building. And I was doing a lot of different hats. I was working with Jared Kushner in the Office of American Innovation, and then was doing all the strategy, so kind of the big picture You know, for the president and the policy, especially on the domestic side, eventually ran the domestic policy team.
Eventually, towards the end, took on Kellyanne Conway's team and some other portfolios. So really, over the course of those three years in Trump won. How did you end up in Trump won? Well, that is a really crazy long story. I, for my entire policy, my heart is in public policy.
Eventually, towards the end, took on Kellyanne Conway's team and some other portfolios. So really, over the course of those three years in Trump won. How did you end up in Trump won? Well, that is a really crazy long story. I, for my entire policy, my heart is in public policy.
I have just, I first thought I may end up at seminary and be a pastor, a youth pastor, and that was really where I felt very called after college, but then realized that if I lean into public policy, And I didn't know what that meant. I didn't even know what a think tank was, but that I could perhaps change more and help more people going that route than if I just worked at a church.
I have just, I first thought I may end up at seminary and be a pastor, a youth pastor, and that was really where I felt very called after college, but then realized that if I lean into public policy, And I didn't know what that meant. I didn't even know what a think tank was, but that I could perhaps change more and help more people going that route than if I just worked at a church.
And so I really kind of learned Got excited about that idea, and I was a big, firm litigator for a couple of years after law school. Did a clerkship, a federal clerkship for a judge in Dallas in the Northern District. And then got a call from Rick Perry, also another... big-time Texas Aggie, ag major from an ag background, a rural town, and he'd just become governor.
And so I really kind of learned Got excited about that idea, and I was a big, firm litigator for a couple of years after law school. Did a clerkship, a federal clerkship for a judge in Dallas in the Northern District. And then got a call from Rick Perry, also another... big-time Texas Aggie, ag major from an ag background, a rural town, and he'd just become governor.