Screwworm In Texas Cattle Could Drive Up Beef Prices—After DOGE Axed Prevention Efforts ByMary Whitfill Roeloffs,Forbes Staff. Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes breaking news reporter covering pop culture.
Follow Author Jun 04, 2026, 11:49am EDT
Topline A flesh-eating parasite that was largely eradicated from U.S. livestock in the 1960s has been found in a 3-week-old calf in a south Texas border town, the USDA confirmed, a threat that could drive the already soaring price of beef even higher after Elon Musk-led government cuts slashed ongoing efforts to prevent its spread.
U.S. Cattle Ranchers Trim Herds Amid Drought And Rising Costs Farmer Jose Esquivel and his field of cattle on June 13, 2023 in Quemado, Texas. Getty Images Key Facts New World screwworm, a parasitic fly with larvae that burrow in healthy tissue of cattle, deer, horses and other warm-blooded animals, was discovered in La Pryor, Texas.
The case is the only one that has been identified in the country so far, according to the USDA, but a wider outbreak could severely impact already-suffering cattle numbers and put even more of a strain on ranchers as they spend money on treatment and prevention.
In turn, the price of beef—which has gone up roughly 75% since December 2020—could continue to rise.
The U.S. cattle herd is already at its lowest level in 75 years, and a major screwworm outbreak would cause more calves to die, adult cattle to lose weight and limit what animals are suitable for sale, meaning fewer pounds of beef reaching the market.
Even without a major outbreak, containment efforts may cause the government to implement widespread cattle movement restrictions, limit border crossings or impose quarantine on certain herds, all of which would further impact the nation’s cattle numbers.
The return of screwworm comes after the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, launched by the Trump administration, last year cut funding for a project dedicated to monitoring and containing New World screwworm in Central America.
The funding was axed days before the U.S. ended a temporary suspension of cattle imports from Mexico, meaning livestock was allowed to cross the border without any of the monitoring previously funded by the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID).
Agriculture officials and cattle industry leaders raised alarm about the cuts at the time and, for the last several months, pleaded with the government to step in as they monitored screwworm infections moving north through Mexico—but they were ignored, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told NBC News.
The video player is currently playing an ad. Crucial Quote “Instead of using every available tool, USDA moved too slowly and relied solely on a partial solution that takes years to fully implement,” Miller said, adding a plea for President Donald Trump to “throw every available federal resource at this threat before it becomes a full-blown agricultural disaster.”
What Is Screwworm? New World screwworm is a fly that lays its eggs in open wounds and body openings of warm-blooded animals. Infestations start when a female fly lays eggs on open wounds—wounds as small as a tick bite can attract a female fly to lay her eggs—or other parts of the body in live animals. Eggs hatch into maggots that feed on the living flesh for about 7 days before the larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, and emerge as adult screwworm flies—starting the cycle again. Most infestations occur in animals, but they can occur in people. The most recent human case in the U.S. was reported in Maryland last year in a traveler who'd returned from El Salvador. The person recovered.
Key Background The United States eradicated screwworm in the 1960s through a massive sterile fly program, but outbreaks in Mexico and Central America have raised concerns about the parasite moving north again. The eradication was the result of multiple sterile fly programs across the south that cost roughly $42 million in the mid 1960s, the equivalent of about $452 million today. Despite the programs’ success, there have been stand-alone instances of screwworm since, including an isolated outbreak in Texas in 1976 that cost ranches an estimated $452 per head of cattle in today’s dollars, totaling $732 million. Those losses came from cattle death, weight loss and hide damage and the cost of surveillance and treatment. Evidence suggests screwworm outbreaks of the past did drive the price of beef higher, though not necessarily in a dramatic nationwide surge, because ranchers in the 1950s and 60s were working in a much stronger industry with higher herd numbers.The U.S. cattle herd had dropped to 86.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, the lowest number of cattle in America since 1951. In May, the USDA said it predicts beef production will decline by 0.9 percent to 25.310 billion pounds in 2027 and said cattle prices are “projected to reach new highs as supplies remain limited.” The average price of ground beef has risen from $3.95 in December of 2020 to $6.89 in April, according to the Federal Reserve.
Big Number $1.8 billion. That’s how much economic damage could be caused by another outbreak on the scale of the Texas incident in 1976, according to USDA estimates.
What To Watch For How the government tries to contain the spread. Officials from Texas and the USDA are taking steps to "contain and eradicate" screwworm, the agency said, including implementing cattle quarantines, movement controls and surveillance within a 20 kilometer area of the infected calf; trapping flies along the border; and releasing millions of sterile male New World screwworm flies in the region.
U.S. and Iran trade another round of fire as Iranian official says talks are at a "deadlock"
The U.S. shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones headed toward the Strait of Hormuz overnight Saturday local time, while seven ballistic missiles fired at Kuwait and Bahrain were largely intercepted as well, according to U.S. Central Command. The U.S. retaliated by launching strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. An adviser to Iran's supreme leader told CNN that negotiations are "at a deadlock" and "the ball is in Trump's court," urging the U.S. to unfreeze billions in Iranian assets.
Fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is continuing to complicate prospects for ending the Iran war, as Tehran insists those hostilities must end before a U.S.-Iran peace deal can be reached. Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew their truce this week, but Hezbollah rejected the truce Thursday, and Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon were reported Friday.
Trump directs acting intelligence chief to cut staff amid criticism over Pulte pick
President Donald Trump is reportedly urging his new acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, to start firing employees.
President Donald Trump is urging Bill Pulte, his new acting director of national intelligence, to reduce the size of the office amid criticism over his temporary appointment.
"I've heard that's way too high for way too long," Trump told reporters Friday aboard Air Force One. "If he cut, I wouldn't mind that."
Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an earlier interview Friday that he asked Pulte to start the process of firing employees of an office that has already faced significant cuts during the president's second term.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and was created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to improve information-sharing.
Trump’s decision to put Pulte in charge of that office has faced backlash on Capitol Hill, including from some Republicans, because Pulte has no known national security experience.
Pulte has also targeted the president's perceived political opponents in his other role leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency by making criminal referrals alleging insurance and mortgage fraud.
"Mr. Pulte has no national security expertise. None. We're not even sure if he's got a basic security clearance," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "This role is too important to be filled by a part-time, unqualified individual."
Trump praised Pulte on Friday, calling him "very talented." He also indicated that he is interviewing five other candidates to permanently replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned from the role following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
"All people that do that kind of thing, and they're very respected people," Trump added, without naming any of the individuals under consideration.
At least for now, concerns over Pulte’s temporary appointment have delayed the renewal of a national security surveillance program that he would help administer. The Senate blocked an extension of the program Friday, but another vote is expected next week before it expires June 12.
Seven Republican senators joined nearly all Democrats in opposing a procedural vote to advance the short-term extension.
The tool is part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and allows agencies like the CIA and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant.
Critics have raised concerns that Americans’ communications are sometimes swept up in the process and are pushing for a warrant requirement when accessing those communications. Others argue such a requirement risks hamstringing law enforcement. Negotiations on reforms are expected to continue if a short-term extension is passed.
First, his signing bonus is tied to the Browns, it does not go to the traded team. Only future roster bonuses move with the player.
Yes - for some reason I thought that he was a FA after this year. If his contract was up this year I think he has much less value. The caveat would be if we sign and trade him whereby the Browns eating his signing bonus helps the team out and makes the situation more appealing.
Matthew 25:31-46 isn't a verse. It's a compete story. You posted your truth. Those aren't facts. They are what you choose to believe and your interpretation of facts.
In case you missed it, "the entire Church" whatever you think that means, does not see things the way you see it either. Much to your surprise it seems you do not speak for all Christians. Also much to your surprise not all who see things differently than you do are some dark, evil forces trying to destroy America either.
Many democrats are Christians. They just believe in the teaching of the New Testament. The message of Christ which was the teachings for the Christians. They don't go back to pick and choose what parts of the Old Testament they want to preach and follow and which parts they decided to ignore the way you do.
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Billy Graham was a great man of God and at one time he was supported by both political parties. What changed?
Could it possibly be that he died in Feb. of 2018? Dear Lord man.
Justice Department says it will stop work on $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" after judge's ruling
Washington — The Justice Department said Monday that it will stop work on the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund following a district judge's decision temporarily blocking the program.
The move comes after the plan earned intense pushback from Republicans in Congress, which threatened to imperil the GOP agenda on Capitol Hill.
The Justice Department said on X that it would abide by the judge's ruling that halted work on the fund, effectively shelving plans for it for now.
"The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established in order to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people," the department said on X.
It continued: "This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise. The Department will abide by the Court's ruling."
They caught and arrested the fleeing fugitive...............
ICE officer wanted in the shooting of a man during the Minneapolis crackdown is arrested in Texas
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal immigration officer wanted in the shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s Minnesota crackdown was arrested Friday in Texas, authorities said.
Christian Castro, of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, was taken into custody 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors charged him with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 nonfatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
Hennepin County, Minnesota prosecutors said the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension located Castro, 52, in Texas, and the Texas Rangers said they assisted in the arrest in Cameron County, which borders Mexico in the southernmost part of the state.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General said its agents were not involved in or present for Castro’s apprehension, denying the Hennepin County Attorney’s office’s claims in press statements about the arrest.
“Any characterization that DHS OIG agents participated in or led the arrest operation is inaccurate,” the Office of Inspector General said in a statement.
Messages seeking comment were also left with ICE and the Texas Rangers.
Online court records do not list an attorney for Castro, and it wasn’t immediately clear if he has one.
In a statement, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty heralded the arrest as “a critical step forward in our prosecution of Mr. Castro.”
Castro is the second federal agent to be charged over their conduct during the Minnesota crackdown, which was known as Operation Metro Surge. He is one of two agents that ICE Director Todd Lyons said lied about the circumstances of the incident.
According to prosecutors, Castro fired through a home’s front door and shot Sosa-Celis in the thigh after Castro and another officer chased a different man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, to the Minneapolis apartment duplex where he and Sosa-Celis lived. Sosa-Celis and Aljorna were legally in the U.S., Moriarty said.
Federal authorities initially accused Sosa-Celis and Aljorna of beating an officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. A federal judge later dismissed the charges, and ICE and the Justice Department opened an investigation into whether the officers lied about what happened.
In a statement after the charges were announced, ICE said the U.S. attorney’s office was investigating statements made by the officers, who could face disciplinary action including being fired and prosecuted. ICE called the Hennepin County attorney’s action “unlawful and nothing more than a political stunt.” DHS’s Inspector General’s Office, which Moriarty credited with assisting in the arrest, is separate from ICE and is meant to serve as a watchdog for DHS agencies, including ICE.
Minneapolis last month released video showing the moments before Sosa-Celis’s shooting, captured from a distance by a city-owned security camera.
The video appears to show a person standing with a snow shovel outside the house, near the street, then retreating toward the house and tossing the shovel into the yard. This happens as a person being chased by another person runs up from the street, falls on the sidewalk, gets up, and keeps heading toward the house.
The three appear to scuffle near the front steps for about 10 seconds. The exact moment when Sosa-Celis is shot isn’t clear. A car with flashing lights pulls up, and another person walks up.
The Trump administration sent thousands of officers to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area as part of President Donald Trump’s national deportation campaign and considered Operation Metro Surge a success.
But tensions mounted during the weekslong campaign, and the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers sparked mass unrest and raised questions about officers’ conduct.
Minnesota leaders and the Trump administration have clashed over who has the authority to investigate and prosecute federal officers for on-duty conduct.
Moriarty’s office last month charged immigration agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. with assault for allegedly pointing his gun at people in a car on a highway. He turned himself in last week, and his lawyer disputes the charges.
The county is also investigating Good’s and Pretti’s killings and sued the Trump administration in March to gain access to evidence in those cases and the Sosa-Celis shooting.
