Senate Confirms Stephen Vaden as USDA General Counsel

The Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee Stephen Vaden as the new general counsel to the Agriculture Department.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledged the confirmation saying it allows Vaden to continue providing legal advice and services to the agency as he has been serving as principal deputy and acting general counsel, USDA said Tuesday.  

Vaden entered USDA in 2017, initially taking the role of a senior adviser to the Office of General Counsel at the agency.

“Stephen’s expertise in the law will well serve the people of American agriculture,” Perdue said. 

Before entering the federal government, Vaden worked as a government regulation and litigation associate at JONES DAY and Squire Patton Boggs. 

Perdue noted USDA expects the Senate to confirm three more nominees for leadership roles at the agency before the end of November.