Congress confirms top USDA trade official under the wire

The Senate confirmed Alexis Taylor to take the position ofthe Agriculture Department’s undersecretary of trade and foreign agricultural affairs on Wednesday, after a monthslong delay and last-minute trading among senators behind closed doors.

The Senate confirmed Taylor by voice vote on Wednesday, seven months after Biden tapped her for the role. She was previously the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

A long road to confirmation: A handful of senators had placed holds on Taylor’s nomination, blocking a swift confirmation vote over a series of separate issues the lawmakers had with USDA and the administration, as POLITICO has reported. In closed door negotiations, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) lifted her hold on a Tennessee Valley Authority nominee in exchange for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) lifting his hold on Taylor over issues related to the walking horse industry in his home state, according to a senior Senate aide. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) also dropped his hold on Taylor, allowing senators to fast-track her nomination on the Senate floor Wednesday.

USTR nominee: In a step forward for another agricultural trade nominee, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) lifted his hold on Doug McKalip, Biden’s pick for chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The move came after a “productive meeting” with USTR Katherine Tai on Wednesday, a Menendez spokesperson told POLITICO.

“During his monthslong quest to address concerns regarding USTR’s accountability, Sen. Menendez has been laser focused on finding a path forward to increase transparency and is pleased to have received a commitment to achieve that goal,” the spokesperson said.

However, Hagerty still has a hold on McKalip and another USDA nominee, Jose Emilio Esteban, who was nominated to lead the agency's Food Safety and Inspection Service, according to the senior Senate aide. Senators and staffers are trying to work through that and other remaining holds in order to confirm the pair in the next few days, before the 117th Congress adjourns. If they are not confirmed, the administration will have to renominate individuals for the positions.

Steven Overly contributed to this report.