Trump Orders a Legal Path for Ranchers to Process Their Own Beef

President Trump said Friday he is authorizing legal documents so farmers and ranchers can process their own food, aiming at what he called a “nasty monopoly” among the four companies that handle about 85 percent of U.S. meat processing. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said “big announcements” begin Monday: waiving processing red tape, expanding sales across state lines, rescinding outdated guidance, faster safety-data technology, funding and deregulation for small plants, a fight against consolidation, and expanded truth-in-labeling. The pledge followed a Glenn Beck interview in which Beck, a rancher, pressed Trump on USDA rules that send producers through large packers. It also followed rancher blowback after Trump temporarily eased ground-beef import tariffs to lower grocery prices.

“Ranchers and Farmers have always been a number one priority for me,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They work very hard, are smart, efficient, and immaculately CLEAN, but for years I have heard that they have had a tremendous problem with the Big Processors, who many say are a nasty Monopoly. They make life miserable for our wonderful Farmers and Ranchers, and I can’t let that happen, can I?” He said much of the ownership is “based outside of the U.S.” and that the documents “should move quickly.” He did not name the firms. Industry and USDA figures identify them as Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS USA, and National Beef Packing. JBS is Brazilian-owned; National Beef is majority-owned by Brazil’s Marfrig. USDA data put four-firm control of fed-cattle slaughter near 85 percent, up from 36 percent in 1980 and about 25 percent in 1977. Ranchers in many regions have two to four local buyers. The companies did not immediately comment. The Meat Institute, which represents large packers, said expanding processing “does not come at the expense of food safety.”

Federal law already lets producers slaughter animals for household use. Meat sold to the public generally must be slaughtered and processed under inspection. The 1967 Wholesome Meat Act set that framework. State-inspected product usually cannot ship across state lines unless the plant is in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, under which state inspectors apply federal standards and product carries the USDA mark. Rollins added Georgia to CIS in July; 11 states now participate. USDA has also announced a Small Processors Action Plan, $60 million more for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, and a Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers program using Commodity Credit Corporation funds that excludes the Big Four. Justice and the FTC have food-supply task forces after a December 2025 executive order on anti-competitive conduct in the chain. The House PRIME Act, which would let states allow custom-slaughtered meat to be sold in-state without federal inspection, has not become law. Trump did not specify which statutes the new documents would change. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the administration is “drafting several policy actions to further support those who feed the world.” R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard has said small plants face high regulatory hurdles to open. Food-safety groups argue the 1967 inspection rules protect consumers. Monday’s USDA package is the first scheduled public detail after Friday’s post.