The Senate confirmed Stephen Vaden to serve as the US Agriculture Department’s deputy secretary in a 51-44 vote Tuesday.
- Vaden to oversee agency’s day-to-day operations, consult Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
- Was agency’s general counsel in first Trump administration, later an international trade dispute federal judge
- Confirmation comes despite Senate Democrat’s opposition and as Congressional Black Caucus flagged concerns over Vaden’s “pattern of undermining civil rights protections”
- NOTE: Senators Push USDA Nominees to Keep Tariff Bailout Options Open