Mindy Brashears was nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which regulates beef and pork products. Dr. Brashears holds multiple patents related to meat decontamination and has ties to the industry. American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to investigate to whether Dr. Brashears had previous contact with the USDA related to her intellectual property or her relationships with such industry groups.

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service stated that it had no records of communications with Mindy Brashears. American Oversight asked for communications between political appointees and Brashears prior to her joining the agency.

FOIA to USDA seeking communications between USDA political appointees and Mindy Brashears in order to shed light on her appointment to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service given her ties to the industry.