Trump makes Agriculture chief’s selection official

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday announced his plan to nominate former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) as Agriculture secretary.

“Sonny Perdue is going to accomplish great things as Secretary of Agriculture,” he said in a statement.

“From growing up on a farm to being governor of a big agriculture state, he has spent his whole life understanding and solving the challenges our farmers face, and he is going to deliver big results for all Americans who earn their living off the land.”

{mosads}Perdue, who is also a former veterinarian, added he realizes the concerns facing rural Americans.

“Beginning as a simple Georgia farm boy, making sure Americans who make their livelihood in the agriculture industry are thriving is near and dear to my heart, and I’m going to champion the concerns of American agriculture and work tirelessly to solve the issues facing our farm families in this new role.” 

The former classroom teacher served on Trump’s agriculture advisory committee during the 2016 race and is also a cousin of Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.).

The Hill first reported late Wednesday that Perdue would likely become Trump’s Agriculture secretary, effectively filling the president-elect’s Cabinet.

News that Trump had selected Perdue disappointed Hispanic groups, who had hoped he would appoint one of their own to his final Cabinet-level post.