Chairman John Boozman convened the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to consider the nominations of Dudley Hoskins to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

The hearing focused on short‑term animal and plant health threats — including highly pathogenic avian influenza and the new world screwworm — as well as longer‑term concerns about workforce losses at USDA research and response agencies and proposed cuts to agricultural research funding.

The nominees each described their backgrounds and pledged to support USDA Secretary Rollins’ priorities if confirmed. Dudley Hoskins, the nominee for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said he would “support Secretary Rollins’ leadership and work every day to support the APHIS and AMS missions” and deliver “a transparent, predictable and science‑based regulatory structure.” Scott Hutchins, the nominee for Research, Education and Economics, described his long career in entomology and stated, “if confirmed, I pledge to do all I can each and every day to improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, and all Americans through the work of the research, education, and economics agencies.”

Senators pressed both nominees on pressing animal‑health responses. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, Senator Cindy Hyde‑Smith and others asked how they would confront ongoing high‑path avian influenza outbreaks and the reported detection of screwworm near the southern border. Hoskins said he would implement Secretary Rollins’ five‑pronged approach to high‑path avian influenza and work with APHIS, state animal health officials and stakeholders to assess needs, including on possible vaccine use — which he said must be “science based” and consider impacts across production systems and trade.

Committee members repeatedly raised staffing losses across USDA science and response agencies. Senators cited an administration buyout that reportedly reduced the research workforce by about 1,600 people overall and more than 1,200 Agricultural Research Service positions, described in testimony as roughly an 18 percent reduction in ARS staff. Hutchins and Hoskins both said they would review current staffing and resources if confirmed; Hutchins emphasized prioritizing available resources to achieve the highest‑value scientific outcomes and to refill critical vacancies.

Several senators urged action on the National Bio and Agro‑Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, which they said remains not fully operational despite substantial federal investment. Senator Jerry Moran described NBAF as a roughly $1.25 billion investment and urged rapid activation; Hutchins and Hoskins said they would review the current status and work to resolve outstanding issues if confirmed.

Committee members also questioned nominees about research funding and proposed budget cuts. Senator Amy Klobuchar and others cited the administration’s proposal to cut more than $600 million from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the fiscal 2026 proposal. Hutchins said he could not assess the specifics of the proposed cuts in the hearing but pledged to “make the absolute best use” of whatever funding Congress provides and to advocate for research that delivers measurable benefits to producers.

Law enforcement and marketplace oversight also drew scrutiny. Senator John Hoeven asked Hoskins if he would “fully enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.” Hoskins answered that, if confirmed, he would work with the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Fair Trade Practices program and career officials “to ensure it was implemented consistent with the law.” Hoskins added that AMS tools such as the cattle contract library and other transparency efforts are part of ongoing work to improve price discovery and competition.

Other topics included: the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which Hoskins said includes about 62 facilities in roughly 42 states and is central to detection and surveillance; concerns about the National Organic Program and overseas certifier oversight; the relocation and staffing status of ERS and NIFA to Kansas City; and local food procurement programs that some senators said had been canceled and should be evaluated for restart. Senators repeatedly asked the nominees to consult closely with land‑grant universities and state partners as they make assessments.

No committee votes were taken at the hearing. The record was left open for two business days.

Less urgent but widely raised issues included support for individual state research facilities, assistance for small and local producers to access commodity procurement programs, and questions about the survivability and reintroduction of elk raised by Senator Joe Manchin as an example of APHIS’s animal‑movement role. The nominees committed repeatedly to review the issues and to work with Secretary Rollins and career staff to implement policies consistent with statute and science.

The committee will consider the nominees after the record closes and committee members complete follow‑up questions and briefings.