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Vaden confirmed as USDA Deputy Secretary

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Stephen Vaden as the Deputy Ag Secretary at the USDA.

Vaden is a former judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade. He also served as the General Counsel for USDA during the first Trump administration, before taking the position at the U.S. Court of International Trade. He grew up on a Tennessee farm.

Following his confirmation, Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman said Vaden knows ag policy and the needs of America’s farm communities.

American Soybean Association CEO Steve Censky added that the deputy ag secretary is a broad role, whether serving as chief operating officer at the USDA or providing key advice to the ag secretary or in the White House and the ASA looks forward to working with Vaden.

Vaden succeeds Xochitl Torres Small, the Deputy Ag Secretary in the Biden administration.