Today, alongside
@GregAbbott_TX, Admiral Schmoyer, Under Secretary Hutchins, John Bellinger, and South Texas ranchers — we saw firsthand the cutting-edge research battling New World Screwworm every single day.
We toured the
@USDA_ARS Knipling-Bushland Livestock Insects Research Lab, then received a critical briefing on the current situation and our aggressive whole-of-government response in close partnership with Texas. At the joint press conference, we delivered a clear message to Texas producers and rural America: we are in full combat mode.
Major Actions Underway:
• Massive sterile fly deployment targeting the current affected area: 4 million by air 4 million on the ground weekly inside the 20km zone — with an additional 90 million across the broader response area
• Unified Incident Command with the Texas Animal Health Commission (
@TAHC) and strict 20km movement controls in the infected zone
• Expanded border trapping, wildlife surveillance, and direct producer outreach to contain and eradicate the threat
• Accelerated sterile fly production at new facilities to overwhelm and defeat the pest
We opened the Moore Air Base dispersal facility, are fast-tracking a new Texas production facility at record speed, will bring a new production facility online in Mexico next month, launched the $100M Grand Challenge, and secured new response tools.
We’ve defeated this before. With President Trump’s leadership, we will push it back again — and protect American ranchers.
Full details and resources:
screwworm.gov
@AgriLife @TexasFarmBureau @TPWDnews