Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 5/15/19

The Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday advanced Trump's nominations for three high-level USDA positions. That leaves the trio once again waiting for an opening in the Senate's packed confirmation calendar.

McConnell said Tuesday that he couldn't estimate when the full chamber would vote on the nominations of Mindy Brashears for food safety undersecretary; Naomi Earp for civil rights assistant secretary; and Scott Hutchins for research, education and economics undersecretary, our Catherine Boudreau reports.

Brashears, Earp and Hutchins made it through the Senate Ag panel late last year but never reached the Senate floor; their nominations expired when the new Congress began in January. Trump renominated them early this year, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue appointed them to "deputy" roles that don't require Senate confirmation.

'Reservations' remain: Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), who chairs the House Agriculture subcommittee in charge of oversight, sent a letter to Perdue on Tuesday expressing "serious reservations" about Earp, particularly how she would handle allegations of harassment and workplace discrimination.

USDA has tried to improve its record of handling such cases, namely at the U.S. Forest Service, where numerous female employees described a culture of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

"We've had extensive conversations with her," said Senate Ag ranking member Debbie Stabenow. The Michigan Democrat said she voted in favor of Earp's nomination on Tuesday after receiving "commitments" about taking the issues seriously.