Gary Washington Named Acting Ag Secretary

Long-time USDA Chief Information Officer Gary Washington has been named the Acting Ag Secretary.  While the newly inaugurated Trump administration is waiting for Senate confirmation of its initial nominations for Cabinet and Cabinet-level officials, one of the first actions by the White House Monday was appointing temporary leaders in several departments.

Washington has been the USDA’s CIO for almost seven years and a government employee since 1997. He was also the CIO for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [AFIS] and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Washington spent five years in private industry as well as ten years as a Computer Operator and a Command Control Specialist in the U.S. Air Force. 

Washington will handle the administrative duties of the office while Brooke Rollins’ nomination moves through the Senate.  Her confirmation hearing is scheduled for Thursday before the Senate Ag Committee.

In addition to Washington's appointment, these individuals have been selected to implement President Trump’s America First agenda, "ensuring that the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers remain a top priority," the Administration noted:

Kailee Tkacz Buller Appointed as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Kailee Tkacz Buller will serve as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Most recently, Kailee served as the President & CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Edible Oil Producers Association. Previously, Kailee served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and held numerous leadership roles across the Department in the first Trump Administration. Governor Youngkin appointed Kailee as the 8th Congressional District Representative of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University at Buffalo.

Preston Parry Appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Preston Parry will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Preston most recently served as Strategic Assistant to the President & CEO at the America First Policy Institute. During the first Trump Administration, he was the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, where he supported operations and served as Policy Coordinator and primary liaison to the Office of the Staff Secretary. Previously, Preston was an Associate Director in the White House Visitors Office. A native of Tucson, Arizona, Preston holds a degree in Political Science from Utah Valley University.

Jennifer Tiller Appointed as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary and Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Jennifer Tiller will serve as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary and Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Most recently, Jennifer served as the Deputy Staff Director for the House Committee on Agriculture and holds graduate degrees from Marist College and Syracuse University.

Ralph Linden Appointed as Principal Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ralph Linden will serve as the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ralph served in various capacities in the Office of the General Counsel from 1982 until 2021, including serving as an Acting Deputy General Counsel during the first Trump Administration. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Law.

Audra Weeks Appointed as Deputy Director of Communications of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Audra Weeks will serve as Deputy Director of Communications of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She previously served in the first Trump Administration as Deputy Press Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture before joining the national press team for President Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign. Audra later served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and most recently specialized in crisis and issues management for food and agricultural clients in the private sector. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University.

Dominic Restuccia Appointed as White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Dominic Restuccia will serve as the White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He previously served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Mike Bishop and U.S. Senator Mike Lee. Dominic is from Michigan and is a graduate of Hillsdale College.

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