WASHINGTON — Two more Texans are in line to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Former state legislator and NFL cornerback Scott Turner is Trump’s choice for housing secretary, and Texas lawyer Brooke Rollins is his pick to head the Department of Agriculture. 

What You Need To Know

  • Two more North Texas natives are in line to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, and it will both be their second stints in a Trump White House
  • Former Texas state representative, NFL cornerback and pastor Scott Turner is nominated for housing secretary, and he previously led the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, focusing on private investments into economically distressed communities 

  • A Texas lawyer and former leader of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Rollins is nominated for agriculture secretary. She served as domestic policy director in Trump’s first administration and later led the America First Policy Institute, advocating for Trump’s agenda

  • Texas leaders have praised the nominees, as both are expected to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate early next year

For Turner and Rollins, both North Texas natives, it will be their second stints working in a Trump administration.

“I like to see Texas leading, and it's great to have two Texas, two Texans I know very well joining the president's cabinet, and I think it not only bodes well for the state, will bode well for the country as well.” said Greg Sindelar, chief executive officer, of Texas Public Policy Foundation. 

Texas Public Policy Foundation is a conservative think tank that Rollins once headed. Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas School of Law. After serving as a director of the domestic policy council in Trump’s first administration, Rolins led the America First Policy Institute, a think tank promoting Trump’s agenda.

Texas Farm Bureau officials say they are excited about her nomination and look forward to working with her to help an industry critical to the state. 

“We have met Brooke in the past. We know her background. She's a strong advocate for agriculture,” said Russell Boening, president of Texas Farm Bureau.

“She has shown her leadership skills over the years from a very young age,” Boening continued. “She's asked to be a cabinet-level person at the national level, and I just think she has the history, she has the skills, and she has the ability to do this.”

Trump’s nominee for the Department of Housing and Urban Development is a former Texas state representative. HUD oversees federal housing laws and housing assistance programs. A former NFL cornerback and pastor, Turner served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. He oversaw efforts to encourage private investment in economically distressed communities.

“He was a great advocate for our urban communities and revitalizing our urban communities, and so it just seemed, you know, I know he has a very strong relationship with the last HUD secretary, Dr. (Ben) Carson, and so it seemed like a very natural fit for him to kind of succeed Dr. Carson and kind of build off a lot of what they've done in that first administration, and hopefully take that to the next level,” Sindelar told Spectrum News.

Republicans will control the Senate in the incoming Congress. Both Rollins and Turner are expected to be confirmed by the Senate early next year.