The United States deputy secretary of agriculture is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The deputy secretary becomes acting secretary of agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation, death, or other inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The deputy secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the secretary of agriculture. The deputy secretary of agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule.
The position of deputy secretary of agriculture was originally called the under secretary of agriculture, until the title was changed in 1976. Previous deputy secretaries by recency include Chuck Conner (September 2005–January 2009), Jim Moseley (August 2001 – April 2005), Richard Rominger (May 1993 – January 2001), Ann Veneman (1991–1993), and Jack Parnell (1989–1991). On July 13, 2017, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Stephen Censky, the CEO of the American Soybean Association, as deputy secretary. Censky was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 3, 2017, and served until November, 2020. Jewel H. Bronaugh previously served as the senate-confirmed Deputy Secretary from her confirmation on May 13, 2021 until her departure in March 2023. She was the first African-American to serve as deputy secretary. Xochitl Torres Small was nominated by Joe Biden in February 2023, and served as the deputy secretary from July 2023 to January 20, 2025. In December 2020, President Trump announced that he would nominate Stephen Vaden to the role.
Two deputy secretaries have gone on to head the Department of Agriculture, Ann Veneman and Richard Lyng.
List of deputy secretaries of agriculture denotes Acting Deputy Secretary
Parties (7) (8) No.PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officePresident(s)John Coyle WhiteTexas1977December 1977Jimmy Carter Jim WilliamsFlorida 1979January 20, 1981Richard Edmund LyngCalifornia1981January 1985Ronald Reagan John R. Norton IIIArizona19851986Peter C. MyersMissouri June 4, 19861989Jack ParnellWashingtonApril 20, 1989May 1, 1991George H. W. Bush Ann VenemanCalifornia June 27, 1991January 20, 1993Richard RomingerCaliforniaMay 12, 1993January 20, 2001Bill ClintonJim MoseleyIndiana July 17, 2001April 2005George W. Bush Charles F. ConnerIndiana May 2, 2005January 20, 2009 Kathleen MerriganMassachusettsApril 8, 2009March 14, 2013Barack ObamaKrysta HardenGeorgiaJuly 23, 2013February 29, 2016– Michael ScuseDelawareMarch 1, 2016January 20, 2017– Mike YoungWashington D.C.January 20, 2017October 10, 2017 Donald TrumpStephen CenskyMissouriOctober 11, 2017November 8, 2020Jewel H. BronaughVirginiaMay 17, 2021March 3, 2023Joe BidenXochitl Torres SmallNew MexicoJuly 17, 2023January 20, 2025Stephen VadenTennesseeJuly 7, 2025Incumbent Donald Trump
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