Recent Updates and Developments

• January 11, 2025: President Trump announced intentions to nominate several individuals to key administration roles:
  • Michael Boren of Idaho as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.
  • James Danly as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Energy.
  • Casey Mulligan as Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration.
  • Paul R. Lawrence as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  • Bill Pulte as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
• January 17, 2025: Richard Fordyce was nominated as the USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation.
• January 18, 2025: Penny Schwinn was announced as nominee for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
• January 20, 2025: The Senate received the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
• January 21, 2025: The American Soybean Association (ASA) issued a statement applauding the nominations of Richard Fordyce, as well as Hoskins and Lindberg, to USDA posts.
• January 22, 2025: The White House officially sent the nominations of the following individuals to the Senate for consideration:
  • Michael Boren
  • Steven Bradbury
  • William Briggs
  • James Danly
  • Richard Fordyce
  • David Fotouhi
  • Kenneth Kies
  • Michael Kratsios
  • Paul Lawrence
  • Katharine MacGregor
  • Casey Mulligan
  • William Pulte
  • Penny Schwinn
• January 22, 2025: Senate Committee Referrals for Nominees:
  • Michael Boren: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • Steven Bradbury: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • William Briggs: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
  • James Danly: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  • Richard Fordyce: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • David Fotouhi: Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Kenneth Kies: Committee on Finance.
  • Michael Kratsios: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Paul Lawrence: Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • Katharine MacGregor: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  • Casey Mulligan: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
  • William Pulte: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Penny Schwinn: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• January 29, 2025: The Senate confirmed Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary by a vote of 68-29. Kenneth Kies's nomination for Treasury Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy), also on January 22, 2025, is still pending Senate consideration.