on january 18, 2017, incoming u.s. president donald trump announced that he would nominate perdue to be united states secretary of agriculture. his nomination was sent to the senate on march 9, 2017. he was approved by the united states senate with a vote of 87-11 on april 24, 2017. he left office on january 20, 2021 when joe biden became president. in april 2022, he became the 14th chancellor of the university system of georgia.