Trump Nominates Scott Hutchins for USDA Top Scientist

A pesticide industry leader, Hutchins was formerly president of the Entomological Society of America.

Written bySukanya Charuchandra
| 1 min read
Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

President Donald Trump nominated Scott Hutchins, the global head of integrated field sciences for Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont, to the role of undersecretary for research, education and economics at the US Department of Agriculture on Monday (July 16). Hutchins also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska.

The chief scientist position at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has remained vacant since Trump took office. The previous nominee, Sam Clovis, the President’s campaign cochairman, pulled out of the running due to a number of controversies, according to Politico.

If Hutchins is approved by the Senate, he will be the third individual with strong ties to Dow, which, in the past, has contributed to the President’s campaign fund, reports Mother Jones. His job will include planning the allocation of the USDA’s $2.9 billion budget. Hutchins has been with Dow Agrisciences, as it was known before it ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Related Topics

Meet the Author

Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
Graphic of three DNA helices in various colors

An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Abstract illustration of spheres with multiple layers, representing endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm derived organoids

Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

Thermo Fisher Logo

Products

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control

Biotium Logo

Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

Colorful abstract spiral dot pattern on a black background

Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

Thermo Fisher Logo
Abstract background with red and blue laser lights

VANTAstar Flexible microplate reader with simplified workflows

BMG LABTECH