Dear Colleagues,
 
Please join me in officially welcoming Xochitl Torres Small to her new position as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. We could not be more fortunate to have such an outstanding, dedicated, and proven professional in this role. As Deputy, Xochitl will lead the daily operations of our department and ensure that we continue to serve all our customers. That’s no small undertaking, but we know that she is up to the task. Over the past few years, we’ve been fortunate to see the Deputy at work in her previous role as Under Secretary for Rural Development, where her devotion to public service has been on full display.
 
Under her leadership, our Rural Development mission area has flourished. We’ve seen her team drive down energy costs, improve access to high-speed internet, expand meat and poultry processing capacity and so much more. As the Biden-Harris Administration continues its historic effort to invest in America, the hardworking team at USDA deserves an advocate whose commitment matches theirs. Xochitl has time and again met the moment with a collaborative approach and a can-do spirit, I personally am grateful to have her partnership at the helm of the People’s Department.
 
I also want to extend a sincere thank you to Kevin Shea, who has served as Acting Deputy Secretary since early March and has helped navigate numerous operational needs thanks to his sound judgement and deep experience at USDA. Kevin will continue to support the Deputy’s office in an advisor capacity over the next few weeks, which will help ensure a smooth transition before he returns to his position as APHIS administrator.
 
All staff members are invited to join us for a swearing-in ceremony on the Whitten Patio on Monday. Full details are provided below, including a livestream registration link for those who cannot join in person.
 
See you Monday,
 
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack

Updated links:

All staff members are invited to join us today for a swearing-in ceremony on the Whitten Patio on Monday;

-OR-

Please join us at USDA.gov/live to watch the event online.