President Trump Targets Meat Processing Rules, Raising Questions for USDA Inspectors

President Trump is seeking changes to allow farmers and ranchers to process their own food without using facilities inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This comes as beef prices rise across the country with the U.S. cattle herd at a 75-year low amid drought, wildfires, and other supply pressures.

In a post on Truth Social, the president wrote, “I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow Farmers and Ranchers to be given the right to PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD.”

The president also called the big four meat processors in the United States “a nasty monopoly” without naming them by name. 

The proposal could affect the role of USDA meat inspectors, who currently oversee meat processing at federally inspected facilities.

Easing of Import Restrictions Sparks Outcry

The decision comes after President Trump moved to temporarily ease restrictions on beef imports to lower prices. That decision rankled ranchers and some Republicans in Congress. 

For example, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) stated that "importing foreign beef is only going to hurt our ranchers and increase prices over the long-term."

Meanwhile– the USDA also announced a new “Ranchers First Initiative” that includes support for small meat processors and other measures aimed at rebuilding the nation’s cattle herd.

PRIME Act Pending

All this come as bipartisan legislation on letting farmers and ranchers process their own food is pending on Capitol Hill.

The Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act would allow meat processed at small custom slaughterhouses to be sold in-state without federal inspection.

Under the legislation, local inspectors — rather than USDA inspectors — could oversee meat production facilities, with the resulting products sold throughout the state.

A pilot version of the PRIME Act was included in the House farm bill which passed the chamber. However, it is not included in the Senate’s version of the legislation which is still pending in the Senate Agriculture Committee (S.2409).