A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing the USDA to fully restore avian influenza surveillance as U.S. poultry producers face a sharp resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
With more than 90 new detections in 30 days and 1.6 million birds affected, lawmakers warn that reduced monitoring, suspended federal communication calls, and staffing cuts following the government shutdown have left farmers without critical real-time information.
Led by Reps. Jim Costa and Sarah McBride, the coalition argues that weakened oversight threatens food security, drives up grocery prices, and puts major poultry regions like California at severe economic risk. Their letter urges USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to reestablish and strengthen previous surveillance and research programs to protect farmers nationwide.
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