Michael Scuse

Michael T. Scuse (born 1954) is an American government official serving as the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. Scuse previously served as the acting United States deputy secretary of agriculture and United States secretary of agriculture in the Obama administration.

Michael Scuse
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture
In office January 25, 2017 – January 2025
Governor	John Carney
In office May 2001 – September 2008
Governor	Ruth Ann Minner
Acting United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office January 13, 2017 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Tom Vilsack
Succeeded by	Mike Young (acting)
Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
In office March 1, 2016 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Krysta Harden
Succeeded by	Mike Young (acting)
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
In office May 14, 2012 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	James W. Miller
Succeeded by	Bill Northey
Personal details
Born	1954 (age 70–71)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Patrice Scuse

Career

Prior to joining the United States Department of Agriculture, Scuse served as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture from May 2001 until September 2008, when he resigned to become Chief of Staff to Governor of Delaware Ruth Ann Minner.^[1][2]

From 2016 to 2017, Scuse served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Following the resignation of Tom Vilsack on January 13, 2017, he served as acting United States Secretary of Agriculture until Donald Trump took office as president.^[3] He also served as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services from 2012 to 2017.^[4][1]

He was re-appointed as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture by Governor-elect John Carney in January 2017.^[5]

Personal life

Scuse and his wife Patrice own a farm in Smyrna, Delaware.^[1]