The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the call for nominations to serve on the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee. A total of four appointments will be made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Ranking Member Angie Craig of the House Committee on Agriculture.
“President Trump charged USDA to advance our unique legal relationship with Tribes, Tribal members, and the Native Hawaiian Community,” said Secretary Rollins. “Members serving on this committee inform how USDA’s programs can unleash rural prosperity for all Americans.”
Authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, the Tribal Advisory Committee is tasked with providing advice and guidance to the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to Tribal and Indian affairs. The committee submits at least one report yearly to the Secretary and Congress on recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
USDA encourages nominations from federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Tribal organizations that are arms and instrumentalities of Tribes or democratically elected by their community, or national or regional organizations with expertise in Tribal food, forestry, and agriculture issues. Appointments for membership will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture for a three-year term. The appointment by the Ranking Member will serve the remainder of the current term’s vacancy, ending December 19, 2026. All nominations are requested to follow the process identified in the Federal Register.
The nomination period for membership to serve on this advisory committee will be open through September 22, 2025. Specific information and nomination instructions are available in the Federal Register.
Agriculture Secretary Rollins renewed the committee charter in July 2025. USDA will host Tribal Advisory Committee meetings no fewer than twice per year with the expectation of meeting quarterly. Activities from the committee will not replace new and continuing consultation required by Executive Order 13175. This advisory committee is administered by the USDA Office of Tribal Relations with ongoing support by the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The next Tribal Advisory Committee meeting is planned for September 18, 2025, to be hosted virtually. More information will be available on the Tribal Advisory Committee web page.
In May, Agriculture Secretary Rollins signed a Secretarial Memorandum (PDF, 756 KB) that recognizes the unique legal relationship with Tribes, American Indian/Alaska Native Tribal citizens, and the Native Hawaiian Community as distinct from DEI, gender ideology, or non-merit-based programming.
