Tom Vilsack is back at the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture The overwhelming vote to confirm Tom Vilsack indicated strong support for his return, but Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., along with six Republicans voted against him. 5:30 am, Feb. 28, 2021 × Tom Vilsack (Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President) After walking out of the Whitten building a little more than four years, Tom Vilsack Is headed back to the Department of Agriculture. The Senate on Tuesday voted 92-7 to confirm Vilsack as the nation’s Secretary of Agriculture, giving the former secretary and Iowa governor a chance to make good on pledges to address a wide variety of challenges from hundreds of different interest groups.