Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., has been sworn in as the new National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to an announcement from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. The role marks a return to federal service for Carson, who previously served as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Donald Trump.
Rollins praised Carson’s qualifications, stating, “There is no one more qualified than Dr. Carson to advise on policies that improve Americans’ everyday quality of life, from nutrition to healthcare quality to ensuring families have access to safe and stable housing.” She highlighted his expertise in addressing chronic disease prevalence and rural housing challenges, emphasizing his role in advancing the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and “America First” policies.
Carson expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “Today, too many Americans are suffering from the effects of poor nutrition. Through common-sense policymaking, we have an opportunity to give our most vulnerable families the tools they need to flourish.” He will advise President Trump and Rollins on nutrition, rural healthcare quality, and housing accessibility, serving as the USDA’s chief voice on these issues.
The retired neurosurgeon will also collaborate with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda. His responsibilities include shaping state-level initiatives to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for junk food purchases and leading updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Carson’s career spans nearly 30 years as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where he performed groundbreaking procedures, including the first separation of craniopagus twins in 1987. He has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
