Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement on the departure of Matt Paul, his communications director, from USDA to head former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign in Iowa.

“Matt Paul has been a close friend and adviser to me for nearly 20 years. Since he joined my team as governor of Iowa in 1998 and throughout our work together at USDA, Matt has demonstrated a fierce commitment to public service, especially to serving those living in rural America.

“Matt believes in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government through clear and compelling communications, and he has proven that here at USDA by integrating and modernizing our outreach and branding, helping to build a stronger digital platform, prioritizing stakeholder engagement, and elevating the voices of American citizens and businesses in all that we do.

“I deeply appreciate his service and friendship, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”