On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump disclosed that he had appointed Brooke Rollins as the chief of the Department of Agriculture, thereby including another distinguished Texan in his cabinet.
Rollins, a Glen Rose native and president of the America First Policy Institute, has been a trusted ally of Trump since his 2016 campaign. She was a member of his Economic Advisory Council.Rollins was previously the director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank located in Austin.
Trump lauded her contributions during his first term, designating them as "incredible" in their capacity to advance his policy agenda.The USDA, a critical federal agency with a $213 billion budget and over 100,000 employees, has an impact on the food supply, agricultural practices, and nutrition assistance programs SNAP in the United States.
Rollins is the second Texan to be appointed to Trump's cabinet in the past few days. On Friday, President Trump appointed Scott Turner, a former Texas state representative, as the Housing and Urban Development Secretary.
Senate confirmation is required for both nominations to be effective.
.jpg)
Early voting for the March 3, 2026 Texas primary runs Feb. 17-27. Houston-area voters will decide key federal, statewide and local races, including a high-profile U.S. Senate contest and the open Harris County judge seat.
.jpg)
Federal officials temporarily shut down air traffic at El Paso International Airport after the Pentagon allowed Customs and Border Protection to deploy an anti-drone laser near Fort Bliss, according to two people familiar with the matter. The closure lasted only hours, but it stranded travelers and raised new questions about coordination between defense and aviation agencies.
.jpg)
Houston has already recorded six 80-degree days in 2026, and forecasters expect more this week as a February heat ridge pushes temperatures 15 degrees above normal. While daily records are unlikely to fall, highs could approach longstanding marks set in the 1960s.