Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Leads Texas Democratic Delegation in Demanding Answers from USDA about Resurgence of New World Screwworm

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) led the Texas Democratic Delegation in demanding answers from United States Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins and requesting a briefing on how the USDA plans to address the resurgence of New World screwworm in Texas and across the United States.

"For the past several decades, our country has remained relatively pest-free thanks to the dedicated work of federal staff and experts at the USDA and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) tasked with addressing infectious pests and diseases," the members wrote. "We understand, however, that last year, the department terminated the employment of more than 15,000 USDA employees -roughly 15 percent of the department's workforce, including more than 1,300 staff at APHIS -and, at the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminated more than 5,300 foreign assistance grants and programs, including a program dedicated to monitoring and containing New World screwworm migration in Central America.

"Despite the historic success of the United States' program to eradicate the screwworm, our ranchers and livestock experts feared it would return," the members continued. "We must make every effort to contain the current outbreak and once again eradicate this pest from the United States. Given the urgency of this matter, we request a briefing for members of Congress on these issues, including the following:

• What impacts these USDA staff reductions at USDA are having on USDA's screwworm detection and response efforts;
• What plans the USDA has to hire additional staff to address this crisis;
• What impacts these USDA program eliminations are having on USDA's screwworm detection and response efforts; and
• What actions did the USDA take to change strategy, if any, once the New World screwworm reached 100 miles from our Southern border?"

Since the initial case of New World screwworm was discovered in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, additional cases have emerged in Texas and New Mexico. An outbreak of screwworm today could cost Texas livestock producers $732 million per year, with an annual economic loss of $1.8 billion for Texas alone.

Congressmembers Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Al Green (TX-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Christian Menefee (TX-18), and Marc Veasey (TX-33) joined Congresswoman Fletcher in the letter request.

To view the full text of the letter, click here.