The Trump administration is suing state for bulging egg prices
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against California, claiming that egg production regulations have caused prices to rise sharply nationwide.
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The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against California, claiming that three state laws contributed to rising egg costs across the country.
“California has contributed to a historic rise in egg prices by imposing unnecessary deficits on egg production,” the lawsuit filed July 9th in U.S. District Court in Central California states. ”
The lawsuit aims to California Legislature Bill 1437, Proposal 2, and Proposal 12, which creates livestock welfare standards and regulates egg production. The Trump administration argues that egg regulation is within the federal realm under the federal law of 1970.
The administration also argues that federal laws overseeing egg quality and packaging will preempt state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
One California law, AB 1437, regulates egg quality for human consumption. Proposal 2, a California voter passed in 2008, brought welfare duties to farm animals, such as egg-drained chickens. The administration argues that the law works together to reduce egg production and increase prices.
The third state law mentioned in the lawsuit, Proposition 12, was passed by voters in 2018, and brought certain minimum spatial requirements for chickens and other livestock.
Egg prices have been very unstable this year, with factors that include the outbreak of avian flu that has not been mentioned in the Trump administration lawsuit, which has led to an increase of over 40%.
According to a summary report from the American Dairy Association (USDA) market, the average cost of 12 eggs nationwide was $2.56 per dozen, but in California it averaged around $3.38 on July 4th. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Egg Prices in May showed an increase of up to 41% compared to a year ago. The next release of CPI, which includes egg prices, is scheduled for July 15th.
The egg control lawsuit is the latest salvo between Trump and California
The lawsuit is the latest in a feud and a war of words between California and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The lawsuit came on the day the Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against the California Department of Education.
The complaint filed in federal court argues that California’s current policies “align girls equal opportunities for athletics” by forcing them to “compete with boys” at state athletic events.
A Newsom spokesman said the state was following the law of 2013 and no court accepted the legal theory cited by the Trump administration in the lawsuit.
In June, Newsom filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the deployment of the National Guard into Los Angeles. President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 security guards and ordered him to suppress demonstrations and violent protests against the crackdown on immigrants.
Newsom accused Trump of “inciting and provoking violence,” “creating massive chaos,” and “militarization of cities,” calling the president’s move “a dictator’s act.” The governor said the decision to sues the Trump administration was due to a “serious violation of national sovereignty” and called for the president to “return control” to California.
The U.S. Attorney General said the egg lawsuit attempts to protect American consumers.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy said the egg control lawsuit against California is the latest Department of Justice’s actions to protect American consumers from predatory commercial practices and regulatory burdens.
“Americans across the country are suffering from the consequences of liberal policies that cause massive inflation on everyday items like eggs,” Bondy said in a news release announcing the lawsuit. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we use the full scope of federal law to ensure that American families are freed from the oppressive regulatory burden and restore America’s prosperity.”
The lawsuit against California also named Newsom, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other state officials as defendants.
Newsom’s Press Office took a jab in the lawsuit in a July 9 post on social media site X.
“Next: @Cagovernor Gavin Newsom sent an asteroid that caused the collapse of Rome and wiped out dinosaurs,” the post added.
