On October 3 the Senate confirmed Steve Censky to be Deputy USDA Secretary and Ted McKinney to be Under Secretary for Trade with bipartisan support.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the confirmation votes: “Steve Censky will help us be responsive to producers reeling from the effects of multiple hurricanes and also offer prudent counsel as Congress continues work on the 2018 Farm Bill. Ted McKinney will take charge of the newly-created mission area focused on trade, and wake up every morning seeking to sell more American agricultural products in foreign markets. We eagerly await their arrival at USDA.” You can read the Secretary’s full statement here.