Xochitl Torres Small is sworn in as the Department of Agriculture's deputy secretary at USDA in Washington, D.C., on July 17. She was sworn in by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.
By Ximena Bustillo, NPR
Xochitl Torres Small has been sworn in as the Department of Agriculture's deputy secretary, making her the first Latina and second woman of color to hold the No. 2 spot at the agency.
The former New Mexico congresswoman was tapped in by President Biden in 2021 to serve as undersecretary for rural development at USDA, the branch of the department that oversees infrastructure, utilities and healthcare across rural communities. Now in a higher ranking position, she takes on the role as the administration and Democrats are looking to strengthen their footprints in rural areas. READ MORE...