WASHINGTON, July 30, 2015 - Jeffrey Prieto has taken over as general counsel at the Department of Agriculture, having won Senate confirmation.
Prieto has been acting general council since November when he replaced Ramona Romero, who left to take a similar position at Princeton University after three years in the USDA post.
“I am certain that as USDA's general counsel, Jeff will continue to advocate on behalf of America's ranchers, farmers and families with integrity, expertise and purpose,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday.
Prieto had served in the Justice Department’s environmental and natural resources division for 15 years prior to joining USDA as principal deputy general counsel last year.
The Senate approved Prieto’s nomination Wednesday on a voice vote.