Mindy Brashears
Mindy Brashears | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| 5th and 7th Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jose Emilio Esteban |
| In office March 23, 2020 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Hagen |
| Succeeded by | Jose Emilio Esteban |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mindy Malynn Hardcastle May 13, 1970 Wheeler, Texas |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | M. Todd Brashears |
| Education | Wheeler High School Texas Tech University (BS) Oklahoma State University (MS, PhD) |
Mindy Brashears is the current Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by a Senate vote on December 18, 2025. Her responsibilities in this role include leading the nation's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and its team of over 10,000 food inspectors and scientists.
She had served previously in the same position from her Senate confirmation in March 23, 2020 to January 20, 2021, similarly nominated by Donald Trump during his first term. During both terms, she chaired the U.S. Codex Alimentarius Steering Committee, which made her the highest-ranking food safety official in the U.S. government during her first tenure.
Between her first and second terms at USDA, she returned to her role as professor of food microbiology and food safety at Texas Tech University where she was the director for the International Center for Food Industry Excellence.