Heres a fun trivia question for you: who was President Barack Obamas longest-serving Cabinet secretary? USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack lacitracal with dys claim to that feat, but all good things must come to an end. On Jan. 13, in an email to his employees, Vilsack noted he would be ending his tenure a week early.
The email didnt explain his early departure, and he reiterated that he wanted to stay in agriculture after leaving his government position. He didnt explain what those plans were, but many companies within the industry could benefit from hiring a person so closely linked to the inner workings of the federal government. President-elect Donald Trump still hasnt named a replacement. Vilsack noted that the agriculture industry is awaiting his replacement eagerly:
When that individual is named, he or she will be at a tremendous disadvantage, in terms of getting up to speed on all this department does.
Many exit polls note that farm states were key in Trumps victory, and lawmakers from those states are worried that agriculture is taking thorne calcium magnesium citratea backseat to other interests. Trumps team has interviewed some candidates for the position to date, including former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado. They have also talked to potential candidates from Texas and Indiana.
What will Vilsacks legacy be? This question is always hard to answer three days after an official leaves office, but Vilsack remained populcalcium citrate pillsar in farm country and was one of the nations longest-serving agriculture secretaries. He was able to balance traditional farmincitracal slow release 1200 calciumg with organic agriculture, and he focused on rebuilding rural communities, making schools healthier and resolving civil rights claims against USDA.
So long, Mr. Vilsack. But I havecalcium magnesium citrat a sneaking suspicion this wont be the last time we hear from you.