Brooke Rollins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brooke Rollins
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025
|
|
| 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| Assumed office February 13, 2025 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Stephen Vaden |
| Preceded by | Tom Vilsack |
| Director of the Domestic Policy Council | |
| Acting May 24, 2020 – January 20, 2021 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Joe Grogan |
| Succeeded by | Susan Rice |
| Director of the Office of American Innovation and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives | |
| In office February 16, 2018 – May 24, 2020 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jared Kushner |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| President of the Texas Public Policy Foundation | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – February 16, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Jeff Judson |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Roberts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 10, 1972 Glen Rose, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mark Rollins |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent | Helen Kerwin (mother) |
| Education | Texas A&M University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (JD) |
Brooke Leslie Rollins (born April 10, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician. She has been the 33rd United States secretary of agriculture since February 2025.
Before this, Rollins worked for Texas governor Rick Perry. She was his deputy lawyer, ethics advisor, and policy director. From 2003 to 2018, Rollins led the Texas Public Policy Foundation. This was a conservative group in Austin that studied public policy.
Rollins also directed the Office of American Innovation from 2018 to 2020. She was the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council during Donald Trump's first time as president. Between President Trump's first and second terms, Rollins helped start the America First Policy Institute. This group works to promote an America First policy plan.
On November 23, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced he wanted Rollins to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The U.S. Senate approved her for the job on February 13, 2025. The vote was 72 to 28.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Rollins grew up on a farm in Glen Rose, Texas. Her mother, Helen Kerwin, became a member of the Texas House of Representatives in 2024.
Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994. She earned a degree in agricultural development. While at Texas A&M, she was the first woman to be elected student body president. She also held other leadership roles, like speaker of the Student Senate. In 2007, she was the first woman to speak at the College Station Aggie Muster. This event honors former Texas A&M students who have passed away.
Rollins then earned a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. She graduated with honors. After law school, she worked as a lawyer in Dallas. She also worked for a U.S. Federal District Court judge, Barbara M. Lynn. Later, she became a deputy lawyer and policy director for Texas governor Rick Perry.
From 2003 to 2018, Rollins was the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. This group in Austin studies conservative policies. When she started, the group had three staff members. By the time she left, it had grown to 100 staff members. In 2011, Texas Monthly magazine named her one of the 25 most powerful Texans. During her time there, the foundation worked to end government payments to farmers. It also opposed rules that required ethanol in fuels.
First Trump Administration Roles
Leading American Innovation
In February 2018, Rollins joined the Trump administration. She became the director of the Office of American Innovation. On September 6, 2018, she also became an assistant to the president for special projects.
Rollins played an important role in getting the First Step Act passed. This law changed the nation's prison system. It aimed to help people avoid returning to prison after release. President Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018.
Domestic Policy Council Leadership
In May 2020, President Trump named Rollins the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council.
In her first public interview in this role, Rollins said she wanted to bring people together. She focused on finding ways for everyone to move forward. She spoke about the country's sadness over the death of George Floyd. Rollins also expressed hope for the future of the U.S. She said, "We are a nation of doers and believers and dreamers."
During a time of protests and unrest, Rollins urged everyone to unite. She said the White House was looking for solutions that both political parties could agree on. President Trump signed a new order to maintain law and order. He said that reducing crime and raising standards work together. This order was created with input from police, mayors, and community leaders.
Between Administrations
In December 2020, Rollins and Larry Kudlow started a new non-profit group. This group aimed to continue promoting Trump's public policies.
Rollins became the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. This group was founded in 2021. It worked to plan and promote Trump's policy ideas. Many former Trump administration officials worked there.
Rollins also helped lead the Save America Coalition. This group started in 2021. It opposed President Joe Biden's economic plan.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (2025–Present)
Becoming Secretary
On November 23, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Rollins. He wanted her to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins is the second woman to hold this position, after Ann Veneman. She spoke before the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture on January 23, 2025. Many groups supported her nomination. These included the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
The Senate Agriculture Committee approved Rollins' nomination on February 3, 2025. The vote was unanimous. On February 13, 2025, the United States Senate confirmed Rollins. She became the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture with a vote of 72 to 28.
Her Time in Office
On February 13, 2025, Rollins officially became the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas swore her into office.
Rollins has spoken against California's farm animal welfare law, Proposition 12. This law stops the sale of food products from animals raised in very small cages. She supports efforts to overturn this law at the national level. In January 2025, she told Senator Joni Ernst she would work with Congress on this issue. In May 2025, she called Proposition 12 "not sustainable." In July 2025, Rollins said she supports a federal lawsuit against California. This lawsuit aims to overturn Proposition 12 and other related rules about laying hens.
On June 23, 2025, Rollins announced an end to the "roadless rule." President Bill Clinton put this rule in place in 2001. It stopped road building on 58 million acres of national forest land. Rollins explained that President Trump was removing "absurd obstacles" to managing natural resources.
Personal Life
Brooke Rollins is married to Mark Rollins. They have four children together.
See also
In Spanish: Brooke Rollins para niños
- Political appointments of the second Trump administration
