Brooke Rollins testifies before U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Jan. 23.

Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of agriculture, discussed her support for biofuels and addressed concerns over her ties to the oil industry during a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Jan. 23.

Trump in November 2024 announced his intent to nominate Rollins to lead the USDA. Rollins served during the first Trump administration in the White House’s Office of American Innovation. She also previously served as a policy director in the office of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and as president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.

During the hearing, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., noted the Texas Public Policy Foundation has a history of opposing biofuels and asked Rollins to explain what role she thinks biofuels play in domestic energy production and how she plans to promote the production of biofuels if confirmed.

Rollins said it is her understanding that the Texas Public Policy Foundation reports referenced by Klobuchar were written over a decade ago, and noted the organization puts out nearly 1,000 pieces of content per year. “I did not author that specific piece, but to be clear, there is no doubt coming from Texas, I was a massive defender of fossil fuels and the importance of fossil fuels in the energy independence and energy dominance narrative,” she said. “Clearly I’ve spoken with so many of you on both sides of the isle on this issue. I will be a secretary for all agriculture. It is really important to me that we continue to defend and elevate and honor all sources of fuel. My former boss and current boss in his current energy dominance plan included biofuels as an important piece of his agenda. So, I really look forward to continuing that.”

Klobuchar also noted that Rollins’ family has significant financial interests in the oil industry and asked if those interests would impact her decision making as ag secretary. In response, Rollins confirmed that she has not in the past—and will not in the future—make any policy decisions based on the financial interests of her family members.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, asked Rollins to commit to supporting biofuels and providing certainty for the renewable fuels industry. Rollins confirmed that “yes,” she would work to support those goals and stressed “I think there is no question where President Trump stands on this.”

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., asked Rollins to comment on ways she would support the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit. While 45Z guidance will come from the Treasury department, Rollins said she will work to ensure USDA provides the agency with the data and opinions it needs to make the right decision.

Several other lawmakers, including Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also addressed biofuels during the hearing, including the growing importance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Rollins referenced Trump’s recent executive order declaring an energy emergency, which encourages the U.S. EPA to consider emergency waivers to allow year-round E15 sales, and stressed that Trump’s “mentioning biofuels as part of his all-of-the-above strategy to reclaim energy dominance across the world is important.”

The American Coalition for Ethanol thanked the Senate Ag Committee for raising biofuel issues during the hearing. “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by Ag Committee Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN), Tina Smith (MN), Joni Ernst (IA), Deb Fischer (NE), Roger Marshall (KS), and Jerry Moran (KS) as they raised important biofuel questions during the nomination hearing,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE. “ACE looks forward to working with Rollins to ‘defend and elevate all sources of fuel,’ including biofuels, and continue making progress on our USDA RCPP projects designed to unlock new market opportunities for farmers and renewable fuel producers. We’re also encouraged she expressed that she’ll work with her counterparts at EPA and the Treasury Department on cross-agency issues, like year-round access to E15 nationwide, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit.”