Brian Baenig
Brian Baenig, chief of staff to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, told USDA staff today that he will step down in August, with the exact date still to be determined.

Baenig said in the email to colleagues that “I can’t share details about my future plans now. I am excited about the next chapter in my life and hope to share more in the future.”

The Hagstrom Report obtained a copy of Baenig’s email.

A source with a knowledge of Baenig’s plans said he had gotten a “fantastic job” in the private sector.

Matt Herrick, USDA communications director, confirmed Baenig’s plan to depart.

Herrick said that Baenig had been “instrumental” in helping pass the 2014 farm bill and “a trusted adviser and friend to the secretary since his arrival to USDA.”

In his email message, Baenig thanked Vilsack, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and the entire USDA staff.

He wrote, “USDA has accomplished a great deal since 2009. We worked with Congress to pass an historic and comprehensive farm bill that will positively impact each and every American. We’ve modernized USDA and its operations, expanding and improving services to rural Americans while saving nearly $1.5 billion in the process."

Baenig's email continued, "The workforce at USDA is more diverse today, and trends indicate that employee morale and satisfaction are improving. We have protected our public lands, forests, and habitat through innovative and inclusive policies. We’ve helped Americans get through difficult times with access to affordable and nutritious meals, and we’ve given our children a healthier future. And we’ve seen the interest in agriculture dramatically increase with record investments, exports, and substantial growth in local markets.”

Before becoming Vilsack’s chief of staff in 2013, Baenig served as assistant secretary for congressional relations, and before that as USDA deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. From 2009 to 2011, he served as deputy staff director on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Earlier, he served as senior policy adviser to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and as staff on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also served for several years as a legislative assistant for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn.

USDA did not announce a successor.