7 U.S.C. § 511p — Delegation of duties by Secretary of Agriculture

This section lets the Secretary of Agriculture hand off duties to other people. Whenever this chapter gives the Secretary a duty to perform, the Secretary doesn't have to do it personally. The Secretary can designate — meaning pick and assign — one or more officers or agents of the Department of Agriculture to do it instead. When those designated officers or agents act, their actions have the same force and effect as if the Secretary had done them directly. The delegation doesn't weaken the duty; it's carried out exactly as if the Secretary handled it.