President Trump nominated former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to serve as Secretary of Agriculture six weeks ago. However, the Trump administration has not yet formally provided the Senate with the paperwork for the nomination. Perdue was the last member of the Cabinet to be named.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) indicated Wednesday that he did not know when he would receive Perdue’s paperwork, which Roberts needs before he can schedule a confirmation hearing. “We need a champion for agriculture, we need him on board,” Roberts said. He did predict that Perdue would be confirmed quickly once the Senate can start on his nomination.
Meanwhile, Perdue has had several meetings with Senators on Capitol Hill. Farm-state senators have mostly praised his nomination, including Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who has said she will support Perdue.
The White House has said that the paperwork, including ethics forms and an FBI background check is coming soon. The paperwork for Alexander Acosta, who was nominated to be Labor Secretary, has also not yet been sent to Capitol Hill. Acosta was nominated on February 16 after the withdrawal of Andrew Puzder.
Perdue is a farmer’s son who built businesses in grain trading and trucking before becoming the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction. He would be the first Southerner in the position in more than two decades. While Perdue’s nomination is pending, Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Mike Young is in charge at USDA.
