On December 18, 2025, the Senate confirmed Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), with the rank of ambassador, and Mindy Brashears as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These are two distinct appointments in separate agencies, not two titles for one job.
Who did the Senate confirm?
- Julie Callahan: Chief Agricultural Negotiator at USTR, with the rank of ambassador.
- Mindy Brashears: USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety.
The Senate’s December 18, 2025 roll-call record lists both nominations as confirmed. Read the Senate roll-call vote.
How are the two jobs different?
| Appointment | Agency | Role named by the title | Confirmation action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Callahan, Chief Agricultural Negotiator | Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) | Agricultural trade negotiations | Confirmed December 18, 2025, with the rank of ambassador |
| Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Food-safety leadership | Confirmed December 18, 2025 |
The titles establish the broad distinction in responsibilities; the Senate confirmation record does not set out either official’s detailed agenda or immediate policy plans.
Is the agriculture negotiator a USDA position?
No. Callahan’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator position is at USTR. USDA has a separate Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs position. The Senate’s nominations-in-committee listing, accessed October 8, 2026, recorded Gregory Ibach’s nomination to that separate USDA trade post as referred to committee on September 28, 2026—not confirmed. See the Senate nominations-in-committee listing.
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What the confirmation record establishes
The Senate record establishes the nominees, their offices, and the confirmation outcome. It does not, by itself, establish biographies, policy priorities, or what either official will do next. For historical context, Senate floor activity from December 2022 separately lists Doug McKalip as confirmed for USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator and Jose Emilio Esteban as confirmed for USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety. View Senate floor activity for December 22, 2022.
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