The Under Secretary for Rural Development (USDA(RD)) is a high-ranking official in the

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

and principal advisor to the

United States Secretary of Agriculture The United States secretary of agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments. The department includes several organi ...

responsible for oversight of the department's rural development programs and policies. The Under Secretary is appointed by the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

with the consent of the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

to serve at the pleasure of the President. The current Under Secretary is

Xochitl Torres Small Xochitl Liana Torres Small (first name pronounced ; born November 15, 1984) is an American attorney and Democratic politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2019 to 2021. Since 2021, she has served as Under Secretary of Agric ...

, who was nominated in June 2021.

Overview

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 Executive Schedule () is the system of salaries given to the highest-ranked appointed officials in the executive branch of the U.S. government. The president of the United States appoints individuals to these positions, most with the advice and co ...

Reporting officials

Officials reporting to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development include: *Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development *Administrator of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service ** Rural Business-Cooperative Service *Administrator of the Rural Housing Service **

Rural Housing Service The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Located within the Department's Rural Development mission area. RHS operates a broad range of programs to provide moderate- low- and very-low-incom ...

*Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service ** Rural Utilities Service

Office holders

Under Secretary Torres-Small was confirmed by voice vote on October 7, 2021. The previous Under Secretary was Lisa Mensah, who was appointed by President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

on May 8, 2014, and confirmed by the

on November 20, 2014. Between the two, Anne Hazlett served as Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, from June 12, 2017, to February 7, 2019, when Hazlett joined the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

References

External links

The website of USDA Rural DevelopmentLeadership – Rural Development
Rural society in the United States {{US-gov-stub