Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., a renowned neurosurgeon and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was sworn in this week as the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In his new role, Carson will advise President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on America’s nutrition policies, healthcare plans, and strategies to improve housing accessibility nationwide.
“Today, too many Americans are suffering from the effects of poor nutrition. Through common-sense policymaking, we have an opportunity to give our most vulnerable families the tools they need to flourish,” Carson said in a USDA release announcing his appointment.
Carson will also serve as the USDA’s primary voice on a range of America’s most significant challenges, with a particular focus on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.
“The MAHA movement isn’t just political anymore – it’s cultural, economic, and here to stay,” Nate Sheets, Candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, wrote in a previous article for DX.
Rollins further noted that Carson’s qualifications are obviously impressive, citing his experience in boosting America’s overall development during his time at HUD and his deep understanding of the country’s healthcare challenges.
“There is no one more qualified than Dr. Carson to advise on policies that improve Americans’ everyday quality of life, from nutrition to healthcare quality to ensuring families have access to safe and stable housing,” Rollins said.
Carson’s career spans nearly three decades at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where he became the youngest division director in the hospital’s history and achieved an almost celebrity-like acclaim for performing groundbreaking surgical separations of conjoined twins.
Carson is also known for founding the nonprofit American Cornerstone Institute.
This nonprofit organization is guided by “cornerstones of faith, liberty, community, and life,” aiming to “strengthen the bonds that hold our country together by promoting conservative, commonsense solutions to the issues facing our society,” per the organization’s website.
In addition to his medical achievements, Carson will soon be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his lifelong contributions to medicine and American society.
President Trump announced the award during his speech at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.
“I am honored to work with Secretary Rollins on these important initiatives to help fulfill President Trump’s vision for a healthier, stronger America,” Carson said.