Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. | Department of Agriculture
U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has praised President Biden's nomination of Margo Schlanger as the department's assistant secretary for civil rights, according to a news release.
“The nomination of Margo Schlanger to serve as assistant secretary for civil rights marks USDA’s commitment to advancing civil rights and equity in all of our programs and services,” Vilsack said in a statement.
Vilsack emphasized Schlanger's experience in civil rights and public service.
“At the Department of Homeland Security, Margo served as the officer for civil rights and civil liberties, and as counsel to Secretary Janet Napolitano on civil rights matters," Vilsack said. "She also served as a trial attorney and senior trial attorney within the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and founded the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, a leading source of information related to historical and contemporary American civil rights litigation.”
Vilsack added, "Margo has shaped the minds of the next generation of civil rights advocates through teaching roles at University of Michigan School of Law, Harvard Law School and Washington University in St. Louis. As assistant secretary for civil rights, Margo will be able to continue her commitment to public service and civil rights as we at USDA continually seek to fairly and equitably serve our employees and customers."
