Why it Matters

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee is set to vote today on the Glen Smith nomination to lead USDA's Rural Development office, a position that controls billions in federal lending and grant programs touching rural hospitals, broadband, housing, and water infrastructure. The seat has been vacant since former Under Secretary Basil Ivanhoe Gooden resigned in January, and rural advocates have been pressing for confirmed leadership as farm country faces what committee members describe as a deteriorating economic environment.

The Stakes for Rural America

The Under Secretary for Rural Development oversees three USDA agencies that function as a financial lifeline for communities too small or too poor to attract private capital. Rural hospital closures, a persistent broadband gap, and an affordable housing shortage have all intensified pressure on the office Smith is nominated to lead.

Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) framed the confirmation in stark terms at Smith's earlier nomination hearing, pointing to the "extremely challenging farm economy" and describing Rural Development's mandate as central to addressing rural hospital closures, housing affordability, broadband access, clean water, and healthcare quality. That framing sets the backdrop for today's business meeting vote.

Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) flagged a specific policy priority in his post-hearing statement, noting that he discussed with Smith "the opportunity to leverage credit programs at USDA to advance a range of priorities in rural America." That includes energy security, healthcare, housing, and livestock producer needs. Hoeven pointed to Smith's background with the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation and the Farm Credit Administration board as relevant experience for that work.

Who Is Glen Smith

Smith comes from Iowa and has a background in agricultural finance rather than traditional federal agency management. Boozman highlighted that Smith operated a family farm in the 1980s and later served on the Farm Credit Administration board, credentials that the chairman argued make him suited to understand both the borrower and the lender side of rural credit markets.

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) offered an early endorsement, stating in September 2025: "I'm thrilled that Glen Smith, a friend and fellow Iowan with a lifelong commitment to agriculture, has been picked to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA."

The Committee and the Vote

The business meeting is chaired by Boozman, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) serving as Ranking Member. The committee convenes today on the Senate side.

The full committee membership spans some of agriculture's most influential voices, including Sens. Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, and Deb Fischer on the Republican side, and Sens. Michael Bennet, Raphael Warnock, Tina Smith, and Cory Booker among Democrats. A committee vote to advance Smith would send his nomination to the full Senate floor.

What the Lobbying Record Shows

The rural development portfolio Smith would oversee has attracted sustained lobbying attention over the past year. Among the active filers:

  • The American Brain Coalition reported $30,000 in lobbying expenditures in both the second and third quarters of 2025, focused on FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA appropriations.
  • BARC Electric Cooperative of Virginia reported $20,000 in the first quarter of 2025 lobbying tied specifically to USDA Rural Development account funding for emergency land-based radio communications in rural areas.
  • The City of Bishop, California reported $10,000 in fourth-quarter 2025 lobbying on the Rural Housing Service Rural Community Facilities Program and related appropriations legislation.
  • Washington College filed multiple quarterly reports through 2025 covering rural economic development, agriculture and food security, and FY26 appropriations, including a second-quarter filing reporting $6,500 in expenditures.

The breadth of organizations (from electric cooperatives to health coalitions to municipal governments) reflects how many constituencies depend on decisions made by the office Smith has been nominated to lead.

The Bottom Line

Smith's confirmation process has moved slowly. Ernst's endorsement came in September 2025, meaning the nomination has been in play for the better part of a year before reaching today's committee vote. The delay is consistent with a broader pattern of USDA leadership positions moving through the Senate at a measured pace in the 119th Congress.

The Rural Development Under Secretary position carries particular weight in the current legislative environment. FY26 appropriations for USDA rural programs remain unresolved, and whoever leads the office will have significant influence over how funds are allocated once a spending agreement is reached. Lobbyists representing rural electric cooperatives, community health organizations, and municipal governments have all been active on Capitol Hill, making the case for their respective funding priorities that will land on Smith's desk if he is confirmed.

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