---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6961"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6961"
heading: "Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6961"
units:
  - "Chapter 98 — Department of Agriculture Reorganization"
  - "Subchapter V — Natural Resources and Environment"
---

# §6961. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment

- (a) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) is authorized to establish in the [Department](/usc/7/6902.md?p=1) the position of Under [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.
- (b) **Confirmation required—** If the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) establishes the position of Under [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment authorized under [subsection (a)](#a), the Under [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
- (c) **Functions of Under Secretary—**
  - (1) **Principal functions—** Upon establishment, the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) shall delegate to the Under [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment those [functions](/usc/7/6902.md?p=4) under the jurisdiction of the [Department](/usc/7/6902.md?p=1) that are related to natural resources and environment (except to the extent those [functions](/usc/7/6902.md?p=4) are delegated under [section 6932 of this title](/usc/7/6932.md)).
  - (2) **Additional functions—** The Under [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment shall perform such other [functions](/usc/7/6902.md?p=4) and duties as may be required by law or prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3).
- (d) **Succession—** Any official who is serving as Assistant [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment on October 13, 1994, and who was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under [subsection (b)](#b) to the successor position authorized under [subsection (a)](#a) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or such later date set by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) if litigation delays rapid succession).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 245, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3223.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 245 of Pub. L. 103–354. Subsec. (e) of section 245 of Pub. L. 103–354 amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.