A high-stakes appointment at the Department of Agriculture brings potential conflict to the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again initiative.
According to Daily Caller, the USDA's appointment of Kailee Tkacz Buller, a former Koch Brothers employee and seed oil industry lobbyist, as Chief of Staff on Tuesday has raised concerns about potential friction with incoming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-seed oil stance.
The appointment highlights a growing divide within the incoming administration, as Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of seed oils, attributing them to America's obesity crisis. His advocacy has already influenced some businesses, with Steak 'n Shake notably switching from seed oils to beef tallow in their cooking processes.
Buller's professional background includes significant roles in food industry advocacy, serving as president and CEO of the Edible Oil Producers Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association.
Her previous experience extends to the Corn Refiners Association and a position with the USDA during Trump's first administration. This appointment appears to contradict Trump's recent stance against Koch-affiliated individuals joining his administration.
The situation has caught the attention of Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who shared her perspective with the Daily Caller. Luna revealed her ongoing collaboration with Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on proposed legislation targeting seed oil products.
Luna stated her position on Buller's appointment:
I hope that that individual does the right thing. If they work against President Trump's MAHA agenda I will be the first one to put them on blast by name.
The proposed legislation by Luna and Booker aims to implement warning labels on products containing seed oils, drawing parallels to tobacco warning labels. This initiative represents a growing bipartisan recognition of potential health concerns associated with seed oil consumption. The movement has gained momentum following Kennedy's public stance against these products.
The appointment creates potential tension between USDA Secretary-designate Brooke Rollins' department and the Department of Health and Human Services. This organizational friction could impact the implementation of Trump's broader health initiatives and food policy reforms.
Kennedy Jr.'s influence on the health movement has already shown tangible results in the private sector. His advocacy has not only influenced restaurant chains but has also sparked broader discussions about food industry practices and public health policies.
The selection of Buller particularly stands out given Trump's mid-January Truth Social post, where he explicitly discouraged recommendations of individuals associated with Koch-affiliated organizations for his administration. Her previous role as a Koch Associate at the Charles Koch Institute directly conflicts with this directive.
The USDA appointment raises questions about policy alignment within the incoming administration. The potential clash between different departments' approaches to food policy and public health initiatives could impact the effectiveness of Trump's Make America Healthy Again campaign.
Despite attempts to gather additional perspective, both Buller and Kennedy Jr.'s teams had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. This silence leaves questions unanswered about how these conflicting positions might be reconciled within the administration.
