119th Congress Nominee record
Stephen Vaden
Latest nomination Department of Agriculture
- Nomination records
- 1 nomination record
- Cited sources
- 1 cited sources
- Nomination snapshot
At a glance
Stephen Vaden's background combines Agriculture Department legal leadership and federal judging. The Federal Judicial Center documents his service as USDA general counsel from 2018 to 2020 and as a Court of International Trade judge from 2020 to July 2025, before his return to USDA as deputy secretary.
Summary sources: [1]
Also recorded or identified as: Stephen Alexander Vaden; Stephen A. Vaden.
Nomination outcomes below are from the Oct 14, 2026 snapshot. Congress.gov may show subsequent actions.
Career and documented accomplishments
- Vaden joined USDA in 2017 as a senior legal adviser, became principal deputy general counsel and then general counsel. [1]
- His Court of International Trade commission was issued on December 21, 2020; the Federal Judicial Center records his resignation on July 7, 2025. [1]
- He received a Vanderbilt bachelor's degree in 2004 and Yale law degree in 2008, then clerked on the Sixth Circuit and Western District of Tennessee. [1]
Nomination history
PN12-43: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Confirmed- Recorded name
- Stephen Vaden
- Organization
- Department of Agriculture
- Listed state
- Tennessee
- Received
- Latest action
- Recorded vote
- 51–44
Latest recorded action
Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 301.
Sources and review date
Career and role sources reviewed . These sources may describe developments beyond the nomination snapshot; each nomination entry retains its recorded date and outcome.
- Vaden, Stephen Alexander
Federal Judicial Center. Reviewed .
Understanding these records
PN means presidential nomination. Each numbered record tracks a proposal sent to the Senate.
A Senate confirmation approves a nomination; it is not proof of current tenure or an appointment taking effect. These entries show received dates and the latest recorded action, rather than a complete legislative action timeline.
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