Kelly Loeffler is reportedly being considered for the position of Secretary of Agriculture in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, according to sources familiar with the matter. CNN reports that Trump plans to meet with Loeffler at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, though no final decision will be made until he announces it officially.
Having briefly served as a Georgia senator, Loeffler played a key role in fundraising for Trump’s 2024 campaign, helping to generate millions over the summer. Her contributions included hosting a debate watch party alongside Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, attended by known figures such as Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Elise Stefanik. Loeffler is also co-chairing Trump’s upcoming inauguration, as previously reported by CNN.
Trump ally Loeffler emerges as a key figure in shaping agricultural policy priorities
The role of Secretary of Agriculture is expected to carry massive weight, especially as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has expressed interest in influencing agricultural policies. Loeffler, originally appointed to the Senate by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp despite Trump’s preference for Doug Collins, lost her seat to Senator Raphael Warnock in a 2021 runoff election.
As a vocal supporter of Trump during her time in Congress, Loeffler initially planned to oppose the certification of Georgia’s electoral votes following the 2020 election. However, after the January 6 Capitol attack, she reversed her stance, condemning the violence and withdrawing her objection. She later testified before the grand jury in Trump’s Georgia election subversion case.
Before entering politics, Loeffler worked as an executive in Atlanta’s financial sector and co-owned the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Her family farm in Illinois, managed by her brother Brian, has received over $4.1 million in federal subsidies since 1995, a topic of scrutiny during her Senate campaign. While federal subsidies support various agricultural initiatives, questions about her family’s financial benefits emerged, with data showing huge payouts to her relatives.
During Trump’s first term, billions in subsidies were provided to farmers impacted by trade disputes with China, a policy overseen by the Department of Agriculture, which did not immediately comment on this matter.
Loeffler, one of Congress’s wealthiest members during her tenure, faced criticism over stock trades linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting her and her husband to divest from individual stocks. Her Senate appointment followed Johnny Isakson’s retirement, with a contentious rivalry between her and Doug Collins for the seat. Trump has now tapped Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
