October 27, 2026
Trump's Animal Welfare Promise Leaves Billions Behind
The Trump administration is celebrating what it calls a “new era of animal welfare.” But for billions of pigs, chickens, cows, and other animals raised for food, that promise offers little protection.
In September, the US Department of Agriculture announced stronger inspections, enforcement measures, and planned protections for dogs and other companion animals. These changes are absolutely needed and we’ll be watching to see how they are implemented.
But what about the billions of animals suffering in industrial agriculture?
On factory farms across America, pigs can spend nearly their entire lives crowded inside industrial buildings, breathing air fouled by ammonia from their waste. According to USDA's 2022 agricultural census, roughly 8,100 farms each held at least 2,000 pigs, collectively housing nearly 70 million animals.
Many of these pigs will never root in the earth or experience the outdoors before being sent to slaughter. Mother pigs can spend months confined in crates so small they cannot even turn around. Chickens are packed into enormous sheds with little room to move, while cattle can endure crowded feedlots, stressful handling, and painful procedures without adequate pain relief.
The Animal Welfare Act explicitly excludes animals raised for food. Federal protections during transportation and slaughter are limited, and much of what happens to animals on farms falls outside federal humane-treatment requirements. A 2026 federal watchdog report identified significant weaknesses in protections for livestock during long-distance transportation, including inadequate oversight and enforcement authority.
Meanwhile, the same administration is pursuing policies to accelerate animal slaughter and expand meat production.
USDA has proposed allowing some slaughterhouses to kill up to 175 chickens per minute — nearly three every second — while eliminating maximum federal line-speed limits for pig slaughterhouses. Faster processing raises concerns that workers may have less time to handle frightened animals humanely, recognize signs of suffering, or ensure they are properly stunned before slaughter. The consequences of mistakes can be horrific: animals could experience severe pain and terror while still conscious.
Donald Trump has also issued executive orders supporting expanded cattle ranching and meat processing. USDA is reopening border crossings for live cattle imports from Mexico, potentially exposing more animals to stressful handling, long journeys, and confinement in feedlots before slaughter.
Animal welfare cannot be a priority only when the animals are pets. Pigs, chickens, and cows experience pain, fear, and suffering, too. Being raised for food should not mean being denied basic humane treatment.
Thank you for all that you do,
Mitch w/ Animal Commons
Source:
Sentient Media | Trump’s ‘New Era of Animal Welfare’ Excludes Almost All Farm Animals
