America Deserves Committed Leadership

WASHINGTON— President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Perdue has strong ties to and long-time investment in corporate agribusiness, and has been responsible for the massive expansion of factory-farm poultry operations in his home state. Perdue would serve alongside director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominee, Scott Pruitt, if both are confirmed. Pruitt has been criticized as a choice to lead EPA because of his repeated attacks on the agency, anti-science sentiments, and denial of the role man-made pollution plays in compounding the impacts of climate change.

The following is a statement from Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director, Center for Food Safety:

“All Americans deserve committed leaders who will champion our rights to clean air and water, and enjoyment of a healthy, bountiful environment – especially in a time when family farms are struggling to survive, bees and other at-risk species populations are collapsing, and every day we see the real impacts of a changing climate. There is a long history of bipartisan support of these rights. Whichever candidate they voted for, the American public certainly did not vote for more pollution, for more pesticides in the food we feed our families, or for more toxic chemicals in the products we purchase.

“The USDA and the EPA are the two agencies charged most with ensuring the safety and security of our food system; promoting the health of our air, land and water; and sustaining viable, working family farms. We are deeply concerned that Sonny Perdue’s and Scott Pruitt’s records of serving the interests of corporate agribusiness and pharma-chemical companies will conflict with their duties to serve the interest of the public good.

“Bearing this in mind, Center for Food Safety will be vigilant in identifying any regulatory decisions by the incoming administration that harm human health or the environment, and is prepared to use all the policy, scientific, campaign, and program tools at our disposal, including if necessary as a last resort, litigation, to challenge them.”

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Additional Resources:

Group Letter of Opposition to Scott Pruitt Nominatio