Trump USDA nominee must protect public lands, water and wildlife

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2017)- The Senate Committee on Agriculture is holding a hearing on President Trump’s nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture. 

In addition to implementing the nation’s food, agriculture and rural development policies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves a substantial role in conserving America’s natural resources and wildlife. USDA oversees 29 agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Managing approximately 30 percent of federal lands, the Forest Service is the only major national land management agency not within the U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition, the USDA administers the “Farm Bill,” which authorizes a wide array of conservation programs and is among the largest sources of conservation funding in the federal government.  

Statement from Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO, Jamie Rappaport Clark: 

“If confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue will be entrusted with tremendous stewardship responsibilities on both public and private lands, overseeing 190 million acres of national forest lands and watersheds, and a range of programs designed to improve conservation on private lands. Every American benefits from the conservation efforts of the USDA, and therefore the country needs to know how Mr. Perdue plans to safeguard our lands from the threats of climate change and protect essential water resources, wildlife and habitat.

“We deserve to know how Mr. Perdue will preserve conservation values at the USDA under an administration determined to eviscerate environmental protections for land, water and wildlife, and slash funding for science, climate change and conservation programs.”