The Agriculture Department has installed an employee brought on from the controversial Department of Government Efficiency, Sam Berry, to oversee the department’s technology.
Berry will replace the department’s longtime chief information officer, Gary Washington, who is now helming a newly created role as USDA’s chief innovation officer, according to an internal email sent to staff Friday and obtained by Nextgov/FCW. Washington also served as the acting head of the department at the start of the Trump administration.
Berry has been at USDA full-time through DOGE as a special advisor since at least early April….
Berry has 15 years of software experience in the private sector, primarily in the startup space, including founding a hospitality-focused software firm, according to an event agenda from a USDA symposium last month.
Lambert here: Oh.
Now, he’ll be overseeing the technology across USDA’s 17 component agencies.
DOGE access to USDA systems has driven controversy in recent months. DOGE staffer Jordan Wick obtained high-level access to a system controlling loans and payments to farmers in the spring, NPR reported in July, which has drawn concern from congressional Democrats. It’s unclear if Berry has had access to that system.
Lambert here: I didn’t know AI could simulate irony, but here we are:
I’m sure it’s fine. Kagi gives better results, returning a “Sam Berry” who develops private equity-backed campground booking software (indeed, “hospitality”), for White Pine Digital. FWIW:
Separated at Birth?
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| Sam Berry, USDA | Sam Berry, White Pine Digital |
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