Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services

The Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services is a position created within the United States Department of Agriculture in 1993, and is responsible for administering the department's fifteen nutrition and food security programs and for promoting the dietary guidelines. <7 CFR § 2.19> The food assistance programs have a combined budget of $170.5 billion and include the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In addition, the Undersecretary oversees the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which leads the development of dietary guidelines and which promotes the guidelines through the Food Guide Pyramid.^[1]

Goals of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services include combatting obesity, promoting better eating and physical activity habits, and helping needy families obtain a nutritious diet.^[1] According to The New York Times, the nutrition segment of the Department of Agriculture received 53% of the department's budget at the time of the creation of the position.^[2]

The Under Secretary is appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. The Under Secretary manages the Food and Nutrition Services and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.^[3] President Trump did not nominate anyone for that position for the first three years of his presidency. He announced his intent to nominate Brandon Lipps in December 2019, and forwarded his nomination to the Senate on January 6, 2020. His nomination was never confirmed.^[4] On February 16, 2023, President Biden appointed Stacy Dean for this Deputy Under Secretary position.^[5]

List of Under Secretaries

Stacy Dean, announced February 16, 2023.^[5]

Haas Moore 2009.jpg

Former Under Secretary Ellen Haas
Nancy Johner.jpg

Former Under Secretary Nancy Montanez Johner
Eric Bost.jpg

Former Under Secretary Eric M. Bost
2010 Wisconsin State Fair - Kevin Concannon.jpg

Former Under Secretary Kevin Concannon

Brandon Lipps was Acting Deputy Under Secretary, announced on July 19, 2017.^[6]
Kevin Concannon who was confirmed in July 2009.^[7]
Nancy Montanez Johner who served from August 21, 2006, to 2009^[8]
Eric M. Bost, who served from June 18, 2001, until July 20, 2006,^[2]^[9]
Shirley Robinson Watkins,^[10] who served from 1997 to 2001,^[11] and
Ellen Haas, who served from 1993 to 1997.^[12]
Mary Ann Keeffe served as Acting Under Secretary between administrations.^[13] The position was created on September 7, 1993, when Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy announced that the title of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services would be elevated to the present Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services title.^[2]

References

[a-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "2009 Performance and Accountability Report". http://www.ocfo.usda.gov/usdarpt/pdf/FINAL%202k9_USDA_Combined_PAR_11.25.09vF8.pdf.

[b-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Burros, Marian (September 8, 1993). "Agriculture Dept. Is Putting More Emphasis on Nutrition". The New York Times. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9F0CE0DA113EF93BA3575AC0A965958260.

[3] "US CODE: Title 7,6 <951. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services". https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/07/6951-.

[4] "Trump refers to Lipps in discussion of nominees". April 16, 2020. https://www.thefencepost.com/news/trump-refers-to-lipps-in-discussion-of-nominees/.

[auto-5] 5.0 ^5.1 "Deputy Under Secretary | Food and Nutrition Service". https://www.fns.usda.gov/our-agency/dus-stacy-dean.

[6] "Secretary Perdue Announces New Leadership for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services" (in en). https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2017/07/19/secretary-perdue-announces-new-leadership-food-nutrition-and.

[7] "Bio of Kevin Concannon". http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_concannon.xml.

[8] "Nancy Montanez Johner Biographies". http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_johner.xml.

[9] "Bost, Eric M.". https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/69265.htm.

[10] "PRESIDENT NAMES SHIRLEY ROBINSON WATKINS TO BE UNDER SECRETARY". http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/1997/05/0171.

[11] "USDA NEWS\VOL 60 NO. 5\Roundup\E. Bost". http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol60no5/bost.htm.

[12] "Fast Weight Loss, Childhood Obesity & Low Fat Diets – Biographies". http://www.foodfit.com/about/bios.asp.

[13] "USDANEWS/Editor's Roundup/Shirley Watkins". http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol56no7/watkins.htm.

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