Stephen Alexander Vaden, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, vice Xochitl Torres Small, resigned
Tyler S. Clarkson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, vice Janie Simms Hipp
Stephen Alexander Vaden was the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, and a Member of the Board of the Commodity Credit Corporation, during Trump’s first term. Vaden worked at Jones Day and Patton Boggs. Vaden serves as a judge on the United States Court of International Trade following his confirmation by the United States Senate on November 18, 2020, and appointment by President Donald J. Trump on December 21, 2020. Vaden helped the National Pork Producers Council in its unsuccessful attempt suit with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn California’s Proposition 12 , the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act.
Tyler S. Clarkson is a Federalist Society member who works as an Associate General Counsel at a synthetic biology company handling all regulatory and compliance matters. Clarkson previously served as the Deputy General Counsel, Principal Deputy General Counsel, and Acting General Counsel at USDA during Trump’s first term. He also worked as a Counselor to the Administrator at OIRA. Previously, he worked as an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer focusing largely on global investigations. Clarkson attended college and law school at UVA; while in law school, Clarkson served as the president of the UVA Law Federalist Society chapter.
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
The DC Local Funds Act (S. 1077) has been held at House Speaker Mike Johnson’s desk since March 18 and every day that goes by costs DC $5.5 million in funding for our schools, first responders, transit, and more.
We need the House to swiftly pass the Senate’s version of this bill to prevent dramatic reductions in services that keep DC running. A bipartisan coalition of leaders agree, and now is the time to make it happen.
On Monday April 7, join Free DC, CARE, the Washington Teachers’ Union, SBOE Reps LaJoy Johnson Law, Ben Williams, and Jacques Patterson, DC Action, the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, Empower Ed, DC Shadow Senator Ankit Jain, Rep. Oye Owolewa, and the powerful community of DCPS students and families for Recess at the Capitol Part 2. Join us starting at 9:30 AM at Spirit of Justice Park (South Capitol St. & C St. SW) for a rally followed by a full day of office visits. Come any time and visit offices for as long as you are able and help make sure the House passes this crucial legislation.
They’re dismantling our country. They’re looting our government. And they think we’ll just watch.
On Saturday, April 5th, we rise up with one demand: Hands Off!
Pre-program at the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument begins at 11 am, main program at 12 pm.
50501 Movement, Indivisible and Women’s March are mobilizing to stop the MAGA assault on our country and Constitution. Across the nation, we’re taking to the streets to defend our freedoms, our rights, and our future. When those in power try to silence us, we rise louder. When they attack our communities, we fight back—together. Join us in Washington DC for a day of action.
This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.
They want to strip America for parts—shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid—all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services, and our democracy to the ultra-rich.
If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save.
Students won’t stand for the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on our education. Join the student governments of Georgetown, Howard, American, George Washington, George Mason, and Temple for the Hands Off Our Schools protest at the Department of Education (400 Maryland Ave SW) on Friday, April 4th at 4pm to make your voices heard.
Featuring Jamaal Bowman, Mary Beth Tinker, and LaJoy Johnson-Law.
If you’re organizing on behalf of a school or organization, please fill out this form! Please contact 978-594-7287 or 650-288-9683 if you have any questions.
Twenty-seven faith groups have filed suit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Trump Administration recission of protections from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activities in sacred spaces and other sensitive locations.
The court will provide access for the public to telephonically attend the hearing by dialing the Toll-Free Number: 833-990-9400 (Meeting ID: 117076001).
Join National City Christian Church for an interfaith prayer vigil on the eve of the first hearing of our historic lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security’s rescission of the sensitive locations memo. The vigil will take place on Thursday, April 3rd, at 6:30pm at National City Christian Church in Washington, DC. Together, we will gather in solidarity, lifting prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities. All are welcome to stand with us in this moment of faith and resolve.
The hearing is in Courtroom 24A, Prettyman United States Court House, on April 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The court will provide access for the public to telephonically attend the hearing by dialing the Toll-Free Number: 833-990-9400 (Meeting ID: 117076001).
Ueland held several positions in the first Trump administration, including as undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights and director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, both in the State Department; deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council and legislative affairs director.
Ueland served as GOP staff director of the Senate Budget Committee for four years under then-Chairman Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo., stepping down from that position in late 2017.
Earlier, he spent a decade working for then-GOP Whip Don Nickles of Oklahoma and then-Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. He left the Hill after Frist’s retirement, which coincided with Democrats retaking the Senate after the 2006 midterms.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
