Sonny Perdue Approved to Lead USDA

The Senate voted 87-11 to confirm former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with bipartisan support and praise from many senators. In this role, Mr. Perdue will oversee the Rural Housing Service, which offers a variety of housing programs in rural areas.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) praised Mr. Perdue from the Senate floor on April 24, saying he would work with Mr. Perdue to "continue developing smart agriculture policies that support both Kentucky and our country."

“I’m pleased to vote for Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue today,” Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) said in a statement. “I look forward to working together to strengthen Wisconsin’s agricultural economy and our rural communities.”

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), the co-founder of the Senate Chicken Caucus, expressed support for Mr. Perdue but urged him to oppose President Trump's proposed budget cuts. "I will challenge Governor Perdue to push back against some of the biggest proposed budget cuts to vital federal programs that support Delaware agriculture," he said.