HHS Issues Emergency Authorization for Animal Drugs as Federal Agencies Join Forces Against Pest
The Trump administration on Tuesday launched an aggressive, multi-pronged strategy to combat the potential spread of New World screwworm (NWS) into the United States, a parasitic larva that poses a significant threat to American livestock and the nation’s food supply.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins inaugurated an $8.5 million sterile NWS fly dispersal facility in South Texas and outlined a comprehensive five-pronged plan designed to enhance the USDA’s ability to detect, control, and eliminate the devastating pest. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a declaration allowing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for animal drugs to treat or prevent NWS infestations.
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NWS, a parasite that feasts on the live flesh of animals and, in rare cases, humans, has been eradicated from the U.S. for decades. However, recent detections in Mexico, as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz – approximately 700 miles from the U.S. border – prompted the immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry on May 11, 2025. While the risk to human health remains very low, the parasite poses an emerging threat to livestock and food security.
“Today we are taking decisive action to safeguard the nation’s food supply from this emerging threat,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This authorization equips FDA to act quickly, limit the spread of New World Screwworm, and protect America’s livestock.”
Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs for NWS in the U.S. The EUA allows for the flexible, faster use of certain animal drug products that may be approved for other purposes or available in other countries, ensuring veterinarians, farmers, and animal health officials have timely access to the tools they need.
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“Thank you to my friends and partners Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary who are answering the call and supporting our aggressive plan to push back and ultimately defeat this devastating pest. This emergency use authorization is another tool we can use in the fight against New World Screwworm,” said Secretary Rollins. “Our cattle ranchers and livestock producers are relying on the Trump Administration to defend their livelihoods. Stopping this pest is a national security priority and we are linking arms across President Trump’s cabinet to defend our borders and push back this threat.”
“Our priority is to safeguard both animal health and the nation’s food supply,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “FDA is acting swiftly and responsibly to help ensure we have the necessary tools to prevent and control New World Screwworm, minimizing risks to agriculture and public health.”
The coordinated federal effort highlights the seriousness of the threat. The USDA’s five-pronged plan, announced by Secretary Rollins, focuses on both domestic readiness and international cooperation. Key components include:
1. Stopping the Spread in Mexico: The USDA has invested $21 million to renovate a fruit fly production facility in Mexico, aiming to increase sterile fly production by an additional 60-100 million flies per week, augmenting the 100 million already produced in Panama. This will result in a total of at least 160 million sterile flies per week. The USDA will also provide traps, lures, and technical expertise to Mexico for improved surveillance.
2. Protecting the U.S. Border: The plan includes supporting Mexico’s strategic trapping along the shared border, creating a “barrier zone of vigilance” through public outreach, and employing APHIS cattle fever tick riders to intercept and treat stray and illegally introduced livestock.
3. Maximizing Readiness: The USDA will partner with state animal health officials to update emergency management plans and ensure sufficient NWS treatments are available by removing any federal regulatory hurdles for their use.
4. Taking the Fight to the Screwworm: The newly announced dispersal facility at Moore Air Base, set for completion in 2025, will be capable of dispersing sterile flies in Northern Mexico. The USDA is also exploring options for a domestic sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base, which could boost production by up to 300 million flies per week.
5. Innovating Our Way to Eradication: The USDA is pursuing innovative research to improve sterile insect technology, develop better traps and lures, explore next-generation NWS treatments, and assess new technologies like e-beam and other radiation for sterile fly production. The Department will also hold public listening sessions to gather stakeholder input on various aspects of the eradication efforts.
The initiative has garnered strong support from state and federal officials.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott lauded the proactive measures, stating, “Proactive measures like this dispersal facility are a critical step to ensure our state and nation are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to this challenge.”
Representatives Monica De La Cruz, Tony Gonzales, Vicente Gonzalez, and Ronny Jackson, along with Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller and Senator John Cornyn, all emphasized the critical nature of the threat and their commitment to the eradication efforts.
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National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein underscored the importance of a domestic sterile fly production facility, a goal long championed by the NCBA and its state affiliates. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening and Texas Cattle Feeders Association Chairman-elect Laphe LaRoe also commended the USDA’s commitment to protecting the livestock industry.
The coordinated, multi-agency response by the Trump administration signals a robust and urgent effort to protect American agriculture, the economy, and the nation’s food supply from the looming threat of the New World screwworm.
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