| Post: | United States Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development |
| Insignia: | US Department of Agriculture seal.svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Seal of the Department of Agriculture |
| Incumbent: | Basil Gooden |
| Incumbentsince: | March 4, 2024 |
| Website: | usda.gov |
The Under Secretary for Rural Development (USDA(RD)) is a high-ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture and principal advisor to the United States Secretary of Agriculture responsible for oversight of the department's rural development programs and policies.
The Under Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate to serve at the pleasure of the President. The current Under Secretary is Basil Gooden, who was nominated in September 2023 and assumed office on March 4, 2024.
The Under Secretary for Rural Development, as head of the Rural Development Mission Area, provides assistance to rural communities in the United States. In particular, this assistance comes in three areas: business, utilities, and housing. The Under Secretary for Rural Development oversees loans, grants, and technical assistance to rural residents, communities, and businesses.
With the rank of Under Secretary, the USDA(RD) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule.[1]
Officials reporting to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development include:
Under Secretary Torres-Small was confirmed by voice vote on October 7, 2021.[2] The previous Under Secretary was Lisa Mensah, who was appointed by President Barack Obama on May 8, 2014, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 20, 2014.
Between the two, Anne Hazlett served as Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, from June 12, 2017,[3] to February 7, 2019, when Hazlett joined the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.[4]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | President | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jill L. Long | 1995 | 2001 | Bill Clinton | ||
| 2 | Thomas C. Dorr | 2002 | 2008 | George W. Bush | ||
| 3 | Dallas P. Tonsager | May 12, 2009[5] | 2013 | Barack Obama | ||
| 4 | Lisa Mensah | November 20, 2014 | January 2017 | |||
| 5 | Xochitl Torres Small | October 13, 2021 | July 17, 2023 | Joe Biden | ||
| 6 | Basil Gooden | March 4, 2024 | Incumbent | |||