Secretary Brooke Rollins Launches USDA Veteran Recruitment Initiative

Brooke L. Rollins, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, announced a new initiative on July 30, 2026, to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into the United States Department of Agriculture. The program seeks to fill essential roles in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial management, and wildfire response to ensure the stability of the American food supply.

The effort implements two primary strategies. First, the department expanded its partnership with the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, enabling active-duty members to acquire civilian work experience during their final 180 days of service. Second, the USDA launched the "100 Hires in 100 Days" initiative, utilizing non-competitive authorities to accelerate the hiring process.

Recruitment efforts are centered in Washington, D.C., and several other states, including Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, and Utah. The initiative is supported by the USDA Veteran Employee Organization and the USDA Military Spouse Association, which emphasized the professional value of veteran skillsets and the unique employment challenges facing military spouses.