Nearly a year after the Biden administration took office USDA continues to slowly fill state and federal positions. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says around 20 states have named director appointees for USDA Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency, but it is a slow process due to the extensive vetting for these positions.

He says they are pleased that some of the federal USDA positions are starting to be appointed or voted on by the Senate.

Vilsack says the Rural Development area and other key leadership positions are also being filled.

Vilsack says the other factor slowing down staffing is the fact that the agency has refilled nearly 4000 positions at USDA that were vacated during the Trump Administration.