Brooke Rollins Explained

Brooke Rollins
Office:United States Secretary of Agriculture
Presumptive nominee
President:Donald Trump
Term Start:TBD
Succeeding:Tom Vilsack
Office1:President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute
Term Start1:April 13, 2021
Predecessor1:Position established
Office2:Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Term Label2:Acting
President2:Donald Trump
Term Start2:May 24, 2020
Term End2:January 20, 2021
Predecessor2:Joe Grogan
Successor2:Susan Rice
Office3:Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental and Technology Initiatives
Term Start3:February 16, 2018
Term End3:May 24, 2020
President3:Donald Trump
Predecessor3:Reed Cordish
Successor3:Vacant
Office4:President and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Term Start4:2003
Term End4:2018
Birth Date:10 April 1972
Birth Place:Glen Rose, Texas, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:Texas A&M University (BS)
University of Texas at Austin (JD)
Spouse:Mark Rollins
Children:4

Brooke Leslie Rollins (born April 10, 1972)[1] is an American attorney and policy advisor to serve as the United States secretary of agriculture in President Donald Trump's administration. She previously served as the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council under President Donald Trump. Prior to assuming that role, Rollins oversaw the White House Office of American Innovation. Rollins was president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, and previously the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based conservative think tank, from 2003 through 2018.[2] During her tenure at TPPF, the think tank grew from having a staff of three to a staff of 100.[3]

Rollins previously served as deputy general counsel, ethics advisor, and policy director to Texas governor Rick Perry. She is an advocate of criminal justice reform.[4]

On November 23, 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intent to nominate Rollins to be secretary of agriculture.[5] If confirmed, she will be the second woman to hold the position, after Ann Veneman.[6]

Early life and education

Rollins was raised in Glen Rose, Texas and attended Texas A&M University, where she graduated cum laude with a B.S. in agricultural development in 1994. While at Texas A&M, Rollins was the first female to be elected student body president. She also served as the speaker pro tempore of the Student Senate, the chair of the Texas A&M Judicial Court, as a Fish Camp counselor, and was Cotton Bowl Classic Queen. In 2007, Rollins became the first female speaker at the College Station Aggie Muster, which honors deceased Texas A&M former students.

Rollins earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, graduating with honors.[7]

Career

After graduating from law school, Rollins worked for several years at Hughes & Luce, LLP in Dallas and clerked under U.S. Federal District Court judge Barbara M. Lynn.

In 2011, Texas Monthly named Rollins one of the 25 most powerful Texans.[8]

Trump administration

Office of American Innovation

In February 2018, Rollins replaced Reed Cordish as Trump's assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives and as a member of the Office of American Innovation.[9]

Rollins was influential in encouraging the passage of the First Step Act, legislation that reforms the nation's prison system and seeks to reduce recidivism. The First Step Act was signed into law by President Trump in December 2018.[10]

Domestic Policy Council

In May 2020, President Trump named Rollins acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council.[11] [12] [13]

In her first public interview as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council, Rollins said she was focused on bringing "together all sides of the table to figure out how we can move forward together."[14] She said the U.S. "is a nation in mourning for the senseless death of George Floyd and the senseless loss of livelihood all over this country." Rollins struck an optimistic tone on the country's future, saying "this is America and we have been through difficult times before. We are a nation of doers and believers and dreamers, and we are a nation where if anybody tells us to step back, we step three feet forward."[14]

Amid nationwide protests and racial unrest, Rollins said "we need everyone to rise above the division and the divide and come together." She said the White House was "working through a list of solutions and possibilities, bipartisan. How do we come together? How do we use this as a unifying force for this country?"[15]

At an event announcing the signing of the new order, President Trump said his goal was to maintain law and order as well as justice and safety. He said "Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals. They are not mutually exclusive. They work together." According to Politico, the order was crafted "in consultation with police officers, mayors, conservative African Americans, faith-based leaders and the families of victims."[16]

Post-Trump administration

After Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election, Rollins and Larry Kudlow began forming a new nonprofit organization focused on continuing to promote Trump's public policies.[17] Rollins is the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, founded in 2021 to promote Trump's public policy agenda.[18]

Rollins is a leader of the Save America Coalition, launched in 2021 to oppose Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion economic proposal.[19]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/news/20180301/glen-rose-native-taking-advisor-post-in-white-house Glen Rose native taking advisor post in White House
  2. News: Svitek. Patrick. Texas Public Policy Foundation head Brooke Rollins to join White House. March 9, 2018. Teas Tribune. February 16, 2018.
  3. News: Drusch. Andrea. Fort Worth's Rollins joins Kushner-run White House post. March 9, 2018. Star-Telegram. February 16, 2018.
  4. News: Kirell. Andrew. White House Hires Prison-Reform Activist as a Trump Assistant. March 9, 2018. Daily Beast.
  5. Web site: Trump Chooses Brooke Rollins to Lead Agriculture Department . November 23, 2024 . Restuccia . Andrew . Leary . Alex . . November 23, 2024.
  6. Web site: Trump taps Brooke Rollins of America First Policy Institute for agriculture secretary . November 23, 2024 . Bustillo . Ximena . . November 30, 2024.
  7. News: Svitek . Patrick . Glen Rose native taking advisor post in White House . June 19, 2019 . Texas Tribune . Glen Rose Reporter . February 27, 2018.
  8. News: Smith. Evan. Texas Monthly's 25 Most Powerful Texans. March 10, 2015. Texas Tribune. January 18, 2011.
  9. News: Trump tech adviser Reed Cordish is leaving the White House. O'Connell. Jonathan. February 16, 2018. Washington Post. February 16, 2018. en-US. 0190-8286.
  10. News: Drusch . Andrea . White House green-lights Texas think tank's ideas, irking Capitol Hill Republicans . January 10, 2019 . Star Telegram . December 18, 2018.
  11. News: Haberman . Maggie . Trump to Name Brooke Rollins as Domestic Policy Adviser . June 16, 2020 . New York Times . May 14, 2020.
  12. News: Samuels . Brett . Trump taps Brooke Rollins as acting domestic policy chief . June 16, 2020 . The Hill . May 20, 2020.
  13. News: How chatter and conservative anger upended a White House staffing search . May 17, 2020 . POLITICO . en.
  14. News: Halon . Yael . White House's Brooke Rollins commits to 'renewing,' 'restoring' policing amid George Floyd unrest . June 17, 2020 . Fox News . June 7, 2020.
  15. News: Forgey . Quint . Trump's domestic policy chief says White House 'working through' proposals to unify country . June 17, 2020 . Politico . June 1, 2020.
  16. News: Cook . Nancy . Trump's answer to nationwide protests: Police-friendly reforms . June 17, 2020 . Politico . June 15, 2020.
  17. News: Isenstadt . Alex . Senior Trump advisers prepare to launch policy group . January 7, 2021 . Politico . December 22, 2020 . en.
  18. News: Montgomery . David . Analysis What Will Happen to America if Trump Wins Again? Experts Helped Us Game It Out. . October 15, 2022 . Washington Post . October 10, 2022 . en.
  19. News: Stein . Jeff . Former Trump aides to spearhead multimillion-dollar campaign against Biden economic plan . October 11, 2021 . Washington Post . September 16, 2021.