Former Trump aide Sam Clovis to leave USDA

Former Trump campaign aide Sam Clovis is leaving his role in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the end of the week, Politico reports.

Clovis worked at the USDA as a senior adviser since January 2017, most recently serving in the department’s National Resources Conservation Service. His last day is Friday.

“He is a good man and a patriot who for decades has served his country admirably,” a USDA spokesman told Politico. “While we are sad Dr. Clovis is leaving USDA, we wish him well on his future endeavors back home in Iowa.”

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Clovis served as one of Trump’s chief policy advisers during the campaign. He was later nominated as an undersecretary at the USDA, where he would have served as the department’s chief scientist.

The pick faced intense criticism from environmental advocates and some lawmakers who questioned Clovis’s scientific credentials.

He faced further scrutiny in the fall after he was caught up in the special counsel’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. 

Clovis ultimately withdrew his nomination in November.