Brooke Rollins

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.

And in Texas, George W. Bush had just become president. They had the old hanging chad. You know, think the election integrity issues are new to today. They are not new to today. This goes way back. But Rick Perry became governor. He was lieutenant governor. And he called me, and I was sitting, billing my every six minutes, the billable hour for this big law firm in Dallas. Loved the firm.

And in Texas, George W. Bush had just become president. They had the old hanging chad. You know, think the election integrity issues are new to today. They are not new to today. This goes way back. But Rick Perry became governor. He was lieutenant governor. And he called me, and I was sitting, billing my every six minutes, the billable hour for this big law firm in Dallas. Loved the firm.

Didn't love the work. And he said, why don't you come join my new team down here in Austin? I was 28 years old. I'd only been out of law school for a couple of years. And he made me his deputy general counsel. Sort of shocking to everybody, but I'd known him. I met him when I was 15 as a future farmer of America. And he believed in me.

Didn't love the work. And he said, why don't you come join my new team down here in Austin? I was 28 years old. I'd only been out of law school for a couple of years. And he made me his deputy general counsel. Sort of shocking to everybody, but I'd known him. I met him when I was 15 as a future farmer of America. And he believed in me.

And so that was really how the pivot, as I was trying to figure out what was next, how I really leaned into public policy and And I found in the governor's office, it was a great experience. I only did it for two years at the very beginning of his administration, Rick Perry's. that you could make such a difference.