The Trump administration’s pick to head the Agriculture Department’s civil rights office acknowledged Tuesday that the agency has a history of discrimination against Black farmers and promised to “vigorously enforce” laws to combat it.
“I’m absolutely committed to building relationships with all customers and employees at USDA,” said Devon Westhill, at his nomination hearing for assistant secretary of Agriculture for civil rights. “Any who want to do business with USDA should be able to do that on equal footing, and you have my commitment there.”
Westhill had a smooth hearing in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, taking questions from Democrats on his approach to diversity, equity and inclusion as he looks to return to a post he held during the first Trump term.
If he’s confirmed, however, he’d be the first person in the job to have Senate confirmation since the Obama administration.
