The Trump administration is launching a full-blown counterattack to stop a horrifying pest—known as the New World screwworm—from infiltrating the U.S. cattle industry. The parasite, which literally eats living flesh, is already ravaging livestock in Central America and now threatens to cross the southern border.
On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins rolled out a five-part strategy to halt the pest’s spread. It includes building a new sterile fly production facility in South Texas, bolstering surveillance at the U.S.-Mexico border, investing in technology, and partnering with federal, state, and local officials. The most urgent goal: produce sterile flies that can interrupt the screwworm’s life cycle and drive the species to collapse.
“The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again,” Rollins declared. “We will use all resources at our disposal to protect our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain.”
The threat is real. Screwworms lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the host’s living tissue. The result can be grotesque infections, loss of livestock, and massive damage to the beef industry. In the 1960s, a screwworm outbreak caused millions in losses before it was beaten back using the same sterile fly method.
Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, called the parasite a “flesh-eating” menace and said producers are bracing for impact. “We need to make sure we can protect ourselves and ultimately eradicate it once it gets to the United States,” he warned.
Rollins’ plan expands on an existing joint effort with Panama and Mexico, where sterile screwworm flies are bred and released in large numbers. The U.S. had already pledged $21 million to boost sterile fly production in Mexico, but officials now admit that won’t be enough. The Panama lab, which produces millions of flies weekly, is reportedly falling behind as the outbreak intensifies.
A USDA spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation, “We know that our efforts will likely require more sterile flies than the facilities in Panama, and eventually, Mexico, can produce.”
That’s why the domestic production lab in Texas is so critical. The administration hopes it will allow the U.S. to ramp up the fly release campaign quickly if screwworms breach the border. The lab also gives American officials more control over a key line of defense.
This action comes as border states continue to reel from other biosecurity concerns, including illegal livestock movement and related diseases. The New World screwworm has already been spotted dangerously close to U.S. soil, raising alarm bells throughout the ranching community.
If the parasite enters American territory, it could spike beef prices and cripple meatpacking operations—something the administration is eager to avoid during a time of high food inflation and agricultural strain.
The Trump team is betting on aggressive containment and proactive investments to keep the crisis at bay. And with the last major screwworm outbreak costing cattle ranchers dearly, the administration is clearly determined not to let history repeat itself.
