The USDA secretary is a dangerous religious zealot like Pete Hegseth

[marmar]

The USDA secretary is a dangerous religious zealot like Pete Hegseth
Brooke Rollins is being sued for blitzing her staff with Christian emails

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published May 25, 2026 8:35AM (EDT)


(Salon) Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins isn’t as dramatic with religious theatrics as some of her colleagues in Donald Trump’s Cabinet, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but that shouldn’t fool anyone. A recent lawsuit from staff members alleges that Rollins has been “promoting her own preferred brand of Christian beliefs and theology to the captive audience of employees,” largely through proselytizing emails sent to the whole staff at the USDA, which make them “fear the negative consequences of not sharing the Secretary’s religion.” The details in the lawsuit reveal that the former Cotton Bowl Queen is just as committed a Christian nationalist as the more belligerent Hegseth.

That might seem like a bold claim at first blush. Hegseth has drawn attention for his aggressive, even violent rhetoric that treats Christianity as a war-mongering faith focused more on punishing non-believers than the more Jesus-like aspirations of love and charity. The defense secretary is so devoted to reimagining Jesus as a vengeful prophet that he got caught giving a sermon-like speech in which he appeared to pass off dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” as Bible verses. In contrast, the emails Rollins sent her staff leaned sentimental, reminiscent of religious tracts being handed out by smiling elderly evangelicals proselytizing to heathens on the street.

....(snip)....

But the plaintiffs are right that Rollins is a bully — and that her actions are about making people who have different beliefs feel “alienated, marginalized, and unwelcome.” Anyone who has spent significant time around the Christian right knows that behind the tight smiles and cheer often lies a deep well of hostility toward anyone who is different. Rollins and her allies illustrated this phenomenon perfectly in their response to the lawsuit.

“While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process,” the USDA spokeperson wrote in the official agency response to the lawsuit. Rollins, similarly, tweeted an article about the lawsuit with the statement, “It’s just another opportunity to remind everyone: He is Risen.”

....(snip)....

Rollins’ proselytizing in the federal workplace signals that conservative Christians are the only legitimate Americans and that everyone else should be treated as second class. She belongs to the same administration that just helped host Rededicate 250, which promoted false claims that the U.S. was intended by the Founders to be a Christian nation. Because “Christian nation” sounds abstract, this myth doesn’t ring the alarm bells that it should with too many voters. ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2026/05/25/the-usda-secretary-is-a-dangerous-religious-zealot-like-pete-hegseth/

[johnnyfins]

1. These people exhaust me, enrage me and

Nauseate me all at the same time.

[FrndStrng]

5. Me: Still enraged

James G. Watt (1981–1983): Reagan's first Interior Secretary, known for his highly polarizing pro-development agenda and contentious relationship with environmentalists, which ultimately led to his resignation.

"I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns, whatever it is we have to manage with a skill to leave the resources needed for future generations."

While Watt did not preach environmental destruction based on the Second Coming, his actual policies were aggressively anti-preservation. He believed the environment should be managed primarily for economic growth, famously declaring, "We will mine more, drill more, cut more timber." He drastically accelerated oil, gas, and coal leasing on public lands and listed fewer endangered species than almost any other Interior Secretary—actions he justified through free-market capitalism and a biblical belief that God provided natural resources explicitly for human use.

[Attilatheblond]

10. Was on a plane from western MT to AZ with a stopover in Bozeman to take on more passengers while Watt was still in offic

He was last one to board and stood there front & center, smiling and looking around like he just won Miss America title. Kept waiting for some recognition at least but obviously hoping for adulation or polite applause. Nada... absolute stone cold silence, then everyone went back to reading or looking out windows. Could've heard a pin drop.

Smile fell off his face but he just kept standing there scanning the cabin. Flight attendant finally said, "Sir, just take your seat so the captain can taxi and take off." It was flippin priceless. Better still, everyone on the plane still remained silent and self absorbed.

Not a big jet, just a lil 737, but still... imagine every single person not looking at him and absolutely no single sound but that flight attendant doing her job. It was a be-u-ti-ful thing.

[dalton99a]

2. Yep, Rollins is sadistic and shameless like Hegseth.

[Trust_Reality]

3. Who has been feeding Rump these religious radicals?

His acquaintances are the Epstein cabal and the Krasnov team.

[GiqueCee]

4. Paula White...

... probably heads that list. If she delivered that list while speaking in tongues, it may have been difficult for Trump's minions to decipher, so who knows where these clowns got their recommendations. Not one of his cabinet members or agency heads has ANY knowledge or expertise that would qualify them for the positions they hold. Ah, but they probably said nice things about Dear Leader. It matters not that they were lying through their teeth. Loyalty to the Orange Gargoyle takes precedence over any ability to actually do the job.

[Jvp]

7. this is project 2025

[relogic]

6. Emboldened

Their adrenaline fueled fervor for evangelism is off the charts now. The Christianity of spread the “Good News”has poisoned our government more than even Sen. Goldwater warned. This infliction started strategically under Reagan and shows no sign of abatement unless evangelicals trade their unholy devotion for a critical brain.

[not fooled]

8. Not suurprised. After all, she advocates cutting SNAP and other

programs that feed people.

Disgusting. Certainly not a follower of the teachings of Jesus.

[hlthe2b]

9. This is an extreme level I don't think seen before though, former CDC Director & Mormon, Dr. James Mason

did exert his religiosity at CDC--including sponsoring prayer meetings that certainly sent a signal to the non-Christians (and non-Mormons). But, he was qualified, appointed by Reagan and then GHW Bush, experienced, had come up through the public health ranks and afaik did not push it.

But what these people are doing now, is a whole different level. I can only hope the courts issue a cease & desist order.

[Attilatheblond]

11. Tell her to start working on multiplying the loaves and fishes or STFU

Millions more Americans are gonna be facing hunger soon due to the policies of her boss who panders to the crazed branch of US Christianity. She better get busy living up to her professed 'faith' and pull off some miracles to show us why her brand of Christianity is best OR work on policies that actually HELP farmers.

[Figarosmom]

12. The Pilgrims fled England because of

Religious prosecution made them fearful. So these stupid yoyos do the same shit.