Critics fault Trump administration for hindering screwworm response

Three former USDA officials recently told Politico that White House spending reviews obstructed the construction of a vital containment facility and stalled a $100 million research initiative aimed at developing new tools to fight the pest. Sources also indicated that the administration failed to act on urgent warnings from career staff regarding the severity of the outbreak.

Simultaneously, the administration is moving forward with a reorganization plan that requires thousands of USDA employees to relocate outside the D.C. region or face termination. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) criticized the move, stating the agency is prioritizing staff displacement over the infrastructure needed to protect American cattle. Further compounding the issue, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) previously cut a $15 million annual screwworm-monitoring program, a decision Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) labeled as an example of peak incompetence.