Trump signs order letting ranchers process and ship beef nationwide

Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order that allows ranchers to kill, process and distribute their own beef across state borders, a step intended to lower grocery prices before the upcoming midterm elections. The decree establishes a direct-to-consumer sales program for producers of all sizes, sidestepping the four dominant meat-packing firms. It also requires country-of-origin labels on foreign beef and directs the Interior and Agriculture departments to develop guidance for potentially removing the Mexican gray wolf from the endangered list to safeguard cattle.

USDA will simplify health regulations while keeping rigorous safety inspections. The administration frames the policy as a revival of American ranching and a victory for the Make America Healthy Again movement, which promotes high-protein diets. Officials highlighted the loss of 600,000 ranchers since 1980 and pledged investment in rebuilding the cattle herd.