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USDA announced APHIS leadership transitions on January 12, 2026: Administrator Michael Watson planned to retire, Rosemary Sifford had recently retired, Kelly Moore was named acting administrator, Alan Huddleston was named acting U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer, and Adis Dijab would continue overseeing Veterinary Services operations. Moore became APHIS Administrator on June 17, 2026. The later appointment and program changes announced that day are separate from the January transition.
What USDA announced in January 2026
In a January 12 announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said APHIS Administrator Dr. Michael Watson planned to retire at the end of January and that Dr. Rosemary Sifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services and U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer, had recently retired from federal service. USDA’s January 12 announcement also set out interim leadership and continuity arrangements.
![APHIS organizational directory / United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Administrative Management, Administrative Services Division. 1984 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31gqE8kgIYL._SL160_.jpg)
| Announcement date | Person and role | Status or action |
|---|---|---|
| January 12, 2026 | Dr. Michael Watson, APHIS Administrator | Planned retirement at the end of January 2026. |
| January 12, 2026 | Dr. Rosemary Sifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services and U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer | Had recently retired from federal service. |
| Effective February 1, 2026 | Kelly Moore, APHIS Administrator | To serve as Acting Administrator. |
| Effective immediately, per the January announcement | Dr. Alan Huddleston, U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer | To serve as Acting U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer. |
| January 12, 2026 | Dr. Adis Dijab, Veterinary Services Associate Deputy Administrator | To continue providing operational oversight of Veterinary Services. |
USDA described APHIS operations as continuing uninterrupted and said they were guided by science-based policies, stakeholder engagement, and experienced acting leaders. That is the agency’s characterization, not an independently assessed measure of performance.
When Kelly Moore became permanent APHIS Administrator
Moore’s acting appointment was a transition step. On June 17, 2026, USDA announced her appointment as permanent APHIS Administrator. Under Secretary Hoskins said, “Administrator Moore’s appointment provides APHIS with strong and steady leadership,” and added that her commitment to service, accountability, and partnership would help APHIS continue supporting U.S. agriculture. Read USDA’s June 17 appointment announcement.
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What the June announcement said about plant-health programs
The June 17 announcement also described targeted changes to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), intended to strengthen national plant-health leadership and unify policy and operational functions. USDA said PPQ programs would continue without interruption, with no reduction in force or movement of staff. It also said the additional announcements did not affect animal or plant health programs or personnel. These are USDA’s stated commitments about the scope of the announced changes; the release does not establish later operational outcomes.
Later APHIS leadership developments
APHIS subsequently reported additional personnel changes that were not part of the January announcement. Matthew Rhoads was appointed Deputy Administrator for PPQ after serving in an acting capacity; Hallie Zimmers was selected as Deputy Administrator for Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services (ERCS); and Associate Administrator Michelle Wenberg was retiring, with her portfolio to be distributed among current executive leaders. APHIS’s leadership update does not state a publication date in the retrieved page text, so these developments should not be assigned a more precise date here.
How to check the current APHIS leadership roster
For a broader roster, consult the APHIS leadership directory, last modified July 9, 2026. Its status lines identify Kelly Moore as Administrator and Alan Huddleston as Acting U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer; it also names Associate Administrators Michael Schmoyer and Sarah Helming and lists program leadership. The directory provides a dated snapshot, not evidence that every listed role was part of the January announcement. Its text contains a later reference to “Acting Administrator Kelly Moore” despite identifying her as Administrator and noting her June 17 appointment, so the dated USDA appointment announcement is the clearer source for her permanent title.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is established—and what is not
The official announcements establish the departures, acting appointments, permanent appointment, subsequent PPQ organizational changes, and USDA’s stated continuity assurances. They do not establish that the changes improved agency effectiveness or caused particular service outcomes. No named statistic central to the leadership announcement was identified in the official sources reviewed.
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