Donald Trump is in the midst of a new political management in the wake of Proposition 12 and the repercussions of the ban on the sale of eggs from caged hens. Gavin Newson, argues that this is a totally political attack and, on the other hand, Brooke Rollins and Pam Bomndi, argue that this fact has led to an increase in the price of eggs. This is one more factor that unfortunately contributes to the inflation that is occurring in the United States. On the other hand, the American Hollow Board today continues to deal with the avian flu that has affected the price and production of eggs. In this same vein, the California Department of Justice along with Sara Amudson, belonging to Humane World for Animals, defend the recent proposition; in fact, even the U.S. Supreme Court has credited the measure. Read on for all the details.
The filing of the lawsuit: the start of it all
In a new front against the Democratic government of California, the administration of Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against this entity that seeks to block a series of laws on animal welfare, under the argument that they unconstitutionally contributed to the skyrocketing price of eggs.
While the group that promoted these laws assures that in reality it was the avian flu that affected the state that caused the high rise of the impact on consumers’ pockets.
The lawsuit was filed by the federal authority Wednesday in a California federal court and challenges the validity of ballot initiatives passed in 2018 and 2008 that require all eggs sold in California to come from cage-free hens.
The fight against exorbitant egg prices in the U.S.
In its complaint, the Trump administration claims that the operation of this law promotes an onerous bureaucracy for the production of eggs and egg products across the country, due to the size of the entity in the national economy.
“It’s one thing for California to pass laws that affect its own state, but it’s quite another for those laws to affect other states in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said Thursday. “Fortunately, President Trump opposes this overreach.”
Meanwhile, egg prices have been sky-high since last year and early this year, but largely to bird flu, which has forced producers to cull nearly 175 million birds since early 2022.
However, in recent days prices have dropped dramatically and the federal government has taken the blame, although state government action has also benefited, as well as other seasonal factors, as avian flu, which is transmitted by wild birds during spring and fall migrations, with a drop in the summer.
“Pointing fingers won’t change the fact that the president’s economic policies have been destructive,” the California Department of Justice countered Friday. “We’ll see it in the courts.”
The national average price of a dozen Grade A eggs fell to $5.12 in April and $4.55 in May after reaching a record $6.23 in March, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the May price remains 68.5% above a year earlier.
For his part, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom reiterated that this is actually a measure with political implications that seek to destabilize his government: “Trump has returned to his favorite pastime: blaming California for literally everything,” said the governor’s office with a message on his social networks.
The Trump. v. California lawsuit
The federal lawsuit alleges that California contributed to the increase in egg prices by implementing regulations that forced farmers across the country to adopt more costly production practices and is the exclusive prerogative of the federal government. Therefore, it seeks to permanently block these California regulations stemming from the two ballot measures.
“Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies that have led to massive inflation in everyday products like eggs,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full scope of federal law to ensure that American families are freed from oppressive regulatory burdens and restore American prosperity.”
However, Proposition 12 of 2018 also bans the sale in California of pork and beef from animals raised in cages that do not meet minimum size requirements. Although for the time being, the lawsuit only focuses on the regulation on egg producers.
According to Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of America when it pushed for the passage of Proposition 12, says much of the U.S. poultry industry opted for cage-free egg production, catering to consumer demand that doesn’t want eggs from stressed hens confined in cramped spaces.
“California has banned the sale of cruelty-produced eggs for more than a decade, a law that has been upheld by courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. Blaming these established animal welfare standards for 2025 egg prices demonstrates that this case is about pure politics, not constitutional law,” Sara Amundson, president of the Global Humane Action Fund, said in a statement.
The American Egg Board, for its part, said Friday it will monitor developments in the lawsuit as it continues to comply with California law, though it said it appreciates Rollins’ efforts to support farmers in their fight against bird flu and stabilize the egg supply.
“Egg producers have been responsive and responsible in meeting the changing demand for cage-free eggs, while supporting all types of egg production and continuing to provide choices in the egg market for consumers,” the board said in a statement.