President Donald Trump has called for the Department of Justice to launch an immediate investigation into some of the world’s biggest meatpacking companies, accusing them of colluding to drive up beef prices while cattle values plummet.
The stern call from Trump echoes Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s similar statement just two weeks ago, in which Miller asked for federal action to protect beef ranchers and beef buyers.
In back-to-back posts on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump zeroed in on the widening gap between falling “live-cattle” prices and rising beef costs.
“I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation,” Trump wrote. “We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of our Nation’s food supply.”
Trump’s new call for an investigation will reportedly include Tyson, Cargill, JBS, and National Beef, which currently control 85% of the U.S. beef processing market.
“While Cattle Prices have dropped substantially, the price of Boxed Beef has gone up — Therefore, you know that something is ‘fishy.’ We will get to the bottom of it very quickly. If there is criminality, those people responsible will pay a steep price!” the President added.
The President’s call-out of the big-beef industry matches Texas’ Commissioner Miller’s five-point plan, as previously outlined by The Dallas Express in October, which demanded stronger federal safeguards for American producers.
Miller had praised Trump’s early steps to protect beef ranchers and American consumers under Secretary Brooke Rollins, but also alluded that more action was needed – such as reversing Biden-era land grazing restrictions and rejecting low-grade foreign beef imports that undercut U.S. ranchers.
“I believe there are some additional steps that can be taken. I hope the Trump administration considers adding the following suggestions to their plan to more effectively reduce the price of beef and better support cattle producers and consumers across our country,” Miller wrote in a statement published on October 23.
With the U.S. herd at its lowest since 1951, sitting around 86 million head of cattle, Trump’s new investigation could signal a turning point for the industry. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the investigation is active, focusing on antitrust violations and potential criminal profiteering.
For shoppers across America, paying what feels like more and more per pound for ground beef, this could mean some real relief for their wallets. For ranchers across the Panhandle and beyond, it could be long-overdue justice.
“Action must be taken immediately to protect Consumers, combat Illegal Monopolies, and ensure these Corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American People. I am asking the DOJ to act expeditiously,” Trump added.