A flesh-eating parasite has the Trump administration backpedaling fast ahead of the midterm elections, according to a new report.
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New World screwworm, a parasite that threatens U.S. livestock, forced the Agriculture department to partially lifting its ban on cattle imports from Mexico, according to a Friday night report from Politico.
The Trump administration is reportedly trying to lower the prices of beef ahead of the midterms.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also resisted pressure from Republicans and the cattle industry to lift the ban as a way to lower beef prices.
“Protecting the United States from [New World screwworm] and pushing this pest out of Mexico and back to the Darien Gap is a top priority at USDA,” Rollins said in a statement. “[The screwworm] has the full attention of the Trump administration.”
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The USDA announced on Friday that it would open a port in Arizona to cattle trade, but the port won’t open until Aug. 24, according to Politico.
“The closure of the Southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of [New World screwworm] in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry,” Rollins said, per Politico.
The USDA is also taking steps to open two ports in New Mexico while keeping ports along Texas closed, per Politico. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a state of disaster across Texas in early June due to the spread of screwworm and the threat to the state’s wildlife and livestock industry.
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