Trump ally Ben Carson sworn in as USDA national advisor for nutrition, health, and housing

Dr. Ben Carson was sworn in on Wednesday as national advisor for nutrition, health, and housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a post created to shape policy on nutrition, rural healthcare quality, and housing accessibility.

"As National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing, Dr. Carson will advise both President Trump and Secretary Rollins on policies related to nutrition, rural healthcare quality, and housing accessibility," a USDA news release states. "He will serve as the Department’s chief voice on these matters, join Secretary Rollins for her work on the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission, and partner closely with leadership in USDA’s Rural Development Mission Area." Carson noted, according to the release, that "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," and that "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, a former neurosurgeon who led the Department of Housing and Urban Development during President Donald Trump’s first term, also founded the American Cornerstone Institute. ACI describes its mission as faith, liberty, community, and life, per materials linked with the organization. The appointment ties Carson’s public profile to a broader agenda that the Trump administration has pursued in domestic policy circles, including faith- and liberty-aligned governance.

Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order to create a Religious Liberty Commission and tapped Carson to serve as vice chair. The White House has signaled intent to elevate Carson’s profile within a policy portfolio that spans nutrition, rural healthcare quality, and housing accessibility, with a view toward advancing the president’s public-health priorities.

Trump announced plans to award Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom and indicated there would be a White House ceremony to honor him. The move aligns with Carson’s long public profile as a confidant of Trump’s inner circle and as a veteran of the administration’s early-2020s policy efforts. Carson previously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 from President George W. Bush.

Carson’s leadership at USDA comes as the administration emphasizes nutrition- and health-related policy within a broad push to expand access to housing and improve rural healthcare quality. Supporters say the appointment underscores a continued emphasis on faith- and community-centered policy priorities, while critics may press for more traditional, data-driven health and welfare reforms. The interplay between nutrition, housing, and rural health remains a touchstone in ongoing debates over the scope of federal influence in community well-being.

During the American Cornerstone Institute Founders’ Dinner on Sept. 20, 2025, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, Trump publicly described Carson’s future role and the administration’s plans to recognize his work with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The event highlighted Carson’s advocacy on faith-led public policy and his collaboration with leaders within the broader conservative policy ecosystem. The public remarks at that gathering reflect the administration’s intent to keep Carson at the center of domestic policy conversations involving health, nutrition, and housing accessibility.

Carson’s new role places him at the intersection of nutrition policy, health outcomes in rural communities, and access to affordable housing, signaling a coordinated approach within the Trump administration’s domestic policy framework. As national advisor, he will be a key voice for policy development and messaging to the White House, USDA leadership, and stakeholders across rural America.