US Ag Secy's $2.5M Oil Investments Soar as Farmers Suffer

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has been criticized for her million-dollar investments in oil and gas companies, which have seen significant gains due to rising prices caused by the war in Iran. The Department of Agriculture's chief has at least $2.5 million invested in fossil fuel partnerships, including HKN II and Hillwood Energy New Ventures.

Since the beginning of this year, diesel prices have hit record highs, while fertilizer prices, tied to the natural gas market, have also spiked. The rising costs are affecting farmers, who have spent an estimated $1.5 billion on additional diesel costs due to the war. Former Governor Jay Inslee stated that American farmers 'are paying through the nose' for this.

Inslee pointed out that Rollins is a climate skeptic and has led efforts to gut climate-focused programs within the agency, including redirecting funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. The USDA also canceled protections for millions of acres of national forest lands under its purview.