Senators advanced three Trump administration picks to lead Agriculture Department offices out of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday night, mostly along party lines.
- John Walk, nominee to be USDA’s inspector general, advanced with a 12-11 vote
- Senate Democrats considering the watchdog nominee pressed Walk during his confirmation hearing on his political independence from Trump over his work in several political appointee roles and on the conservative Project 2025 policy blueprint
- The panel also advanced assistant secretary of agriculture nominee Stella Yvette Herrell, 13-10, with Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joining Republicans, and Mindy Brashears, tapped to serve as undersecretary ...