Senate Confirms USTR, USDA Officials

Dec 31, 2025

Two Trump administration officials received Senate confirmation earlier this month. Julie Callahan will serve as chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and Mindy Brashears will serve as under secretary for food safety at USDA.

Callahan has been with USTR since 2016. Her most recent position was assistant USTR for agricultural affairs and commodity policy. Before her time at the agency, she worked at the Food and Drug Administration.

“President Trump has made it a priority to sign new trade deals and open new markets to high-quality American beef. We look forward to working with Ambassador Callahan to make good on those promises and strengthen America’s cattle and beef industry through new trade opportunities," said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus.

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Video: Swine Biosecurity: 5 Critical Steps to Prevent Disease Transmission | LANXESS

Protecting herd health starts before anyone enters the barn. Every visitor, employee, piece of equipment and movement between farms can introduce disease risks if proper biosecurity protocols aren't followed.

In this SwineWeb Biosecurity Intelligence feature, Dr. Gisele Ravagnani of LANXESS Biosecurity Solutions explains practical steps pork producers can take to strengthen on-farm biosecurity and reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Key topics covered:

• Visitor Management: Why visitor logs, previous farm exposure and downtime requirements are essential.

• Controlled Barn Entry: How Danish entry systems establish a clear separation between clean and dirty areas.

• Shower-In/Shower-Out Protocols: The importance of dedicated clothing, footwear and controlled movement.

• Footbath Management: Proper cleaning, disinfection and maintenance practices, including the use of Virkon™ S.

• Equipment Biosecurity: Why equipment must be properly cleaned, disinfected and dried before entering production areas.