Trump campaign adviser from Iowa takes job at USDA

Source: By Jason Noble, The Des Moines Register • Posted: Friday, January 27, 2017

Sam Clovis, a conservative activist from Iowa and 2014 candidate for state treasurer, will join the Trump administration in a role at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Clovis, a former political science professor and talk-radio host, served as a top policy adviser throughout Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Annette Sweeney, a former state representative and agriculture advocate initially announced Clovis’ appointment to The Des Moines Register last week. Clovis himself confirmed the post in an interview with Radio Iowa.

According to the Radio Iowa report, Clovis was sworn in shortly after Trump’s inauguration and is currently serving on the “beachhead team” of Trump officials working on the leadership transition at USDA. A permanent job will follow.

Trump has appointed former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as secretary of agriculture, although he has not yet been confirmed.

Clovis is one of several Iowans taking jobs in the new Republican administration. Gov. Terry Branstad has been tapped as ambassador to China, while his son, Eric Branstad, will work in the White House in a role that has not yet been publicly announced.

Further Iowa-to-Washington announcements are expected in the days and weeks to come.

|