Trump names Big Food lobbyist to set up Dept of Agriculture

lobbyists that candidate Trump railed against are now among President-Elect Trump’s most prominent advisors.

The New York Times reports that the very same special-interest corporate consultants and lobbyists that candidate Trump railed against are now among President-Elect Trump’s most prominent advisors. Notably, Trump has named Michael Torrey, a lobbyist for the American Beverage Association and Dean Foods, to help set up the new team at the Department of Agriculture. The hypocrisy is astounding. And what they end up with will probably be horrifying. Help CSPI blow the whistle on appointing individuals with clear conflicts-of-interest to high-level policymaker positions. Managing government is not about getting rich quick. It is about providing the public with much-needed protections from vested interests whose motivations are either shrinking government or turning a profit. CSPI is on high alert, and we will do all we can to defend the public’s health and the safety of the food system. A gift today will come at a critical time, just as the lame duck session of Congress begins Monday morning. Donald Trump’s early decisions regarding USDA, EPA, and other major agencies indicate that he is declaring a war on science and bent on returning us to the dark days of uninspected meat and junk food in schools. Please consider making a monthly contribution to help us hold the line and protect the gains that we’ve made over the past eight years. Sincerely, Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D. President Center for Science in the Public Interest P.S. Send a message to the new Administration and Congress that we won’t be silenced if they try to dismantle all we’ve accomplished to protect the public’s health.  Give now. Give generously. Your voice will be heard—whether they like it or not.